The Inti Raymi Festivity

El Inti Raymi, the most splendid festivity of the Inca Empire, it is carried out at the end of June; that is, at the beginning of the winter solstice when the Sun is farther away from the earth. It is then that the harvest begins.

On the eve of the celebration, the most important people of the empire gathered in the main square. There were generals, princes, governors and the Inca himself, finely dressed, holding their shields and scepters.

In the darkness, the crowd awaited with great respect and deep silence, the appearance of the Sun God.

The Inca, the priest and the people homaged the Sun God. They thanked him for the harvest and asked him to fertilize the earth again and continue providing well-being to the children to the Tahuantinsuyo.

The sacred fire was lit and the Inca Emperor toasted with the Sun. They also sacrified a llama and its inner organs were used to predict the future.

With the arrival of the Spanish, the festivity was prohibited by the Catholic Church. And it was only carried out again since 1942. At present the Inti Raimi festivity is carried out on June 24th., every year, matching the day of the Peasant.

The celebration is carried out in the Fortress of Sacsayhuaman (Saqsaywaman) and it represents the ceremony as it was done in the Tahuantinsuyu, but now at the sight of thousands of tourists.

The participants wear feathers, scarves and masks and carry spears. Jumping at a rythm, they form figures, shouting prayers to the sun, to the rythm of the flutes and drums. It is a great, lively spectacle.

The main character is the Inca, who is elected through a qualification contest, and his appearance is imposing, on a litter carried by eight vassals, wearing a dress with the colors of the Tahuantinsuyo, golden bracelets and feathers garment on his head.

The contemporary ceremony repeats, in all details, the rite of the Inca times. Once the "willac umo" has transmitted the interpretations of the prophecies, the Inca orders the retreatment, triggering out the frantic hubbub that lasts many days.

The Inti Raymi is carried out in the Fortress of Saqsaywaman.