UJ #17 - Traditional Peru
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JULY | FESTIVITY OF THE VIRGEN DEL<br />
CARMEN OF PAUCARTAMBO<br />
Diego del Río<br />
<strong>Peru</strong>’s religious festivities are one of a kind. Formally<br />
honouring the people’s devotion in a jubilant affair,<br />
these events bring thousands of devotees together to<br />
rejoice in their shared faith and pay homage to their<br />
patron saints.<br />
The fiesta of the Virgen del Carmen, held in Paucartambo, is<br />
one of Cusco’s biggest celebrations. Unlike the pilgrimage<br />
of the Lord of Qoylloriti, where mysticism and physical<br />
demands prevail, this celebration brings the colonial town<br />
of Paucartambo to a joyous halt for four days.<br />
Diego del Río<br />
There are two stories behind the origin of the devotion<br />
for the Virgen del Carmen, both of which hail from the XVII<br />
IN 1985, PAUCARTAMBO’S VIRGEN DEL<br />
CARMEN TRAVELLED TO CUSCO DURING<br />
THE VISIT OF POPE JOHN PAUL II. THE<br />
IMAGE WAS CROWNED BY THE VERY<br />
POPE IN A CEREMONY PERFORMED<br />
IN THE ESPLANADE OF THE RUINS OF<br />
SACSAYHUAMAN.<br />
The small town<br />
of Paucartambo<br />
surrenders itself<br />
to the ‘Mamacha.’<br />
On the 15th of July, the town bells ring, marking the<br />
beginning of the festivities. That same night, during the<br />
qonoyo bonfire, the dancers from the Q’olqa, Chunchu, and<br />
Maqta dance troupes – who together represent purgatory –<br />
show off their dancing and acrobatic skills. Then, the other<br />
Diego del Río<br />
The anxious<br />
devotees<br />
eagerly wait<br />
for the Virgen<br />
del Carmen’s<br />
plinth to exit<br />
the church.<br />
Century. The first version recounts that an effigy of the<br />
Virgin was sent from Spain to the district of Kosñipata,<br />
so that the people of this area could adopt her as their<br />
patron. As it made its way, however, the effigy was set<br />
down in the town of Paucartambo, upon which the<br />
local landowners gathered with prayers and offerings,<br />
enticing her to stay. In the other version, the qollas or<br />
traders who traversed the route between Paucartambo<br />
and Kosñipata discovered the Virgin’s face in bas-relief<br />
within a clay pot. The image was then sculpted by local<br />
artists in remembrance of the discovery.<br />
48<br />
A saqra hiding<br />
out on a rooftop.