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26 October, 2023
the biggest festival of the sun – inti raymi Today we will talk about a quite surprising topic about “The Greatest Festival of the Sun – Inti Raymi”
Inti Raymi is a Quechua word that in Spanish means “Festival of the Sun” and is celebrated not only in the city of Cusco and Peru, but also goes beyond borders, celebrating it in Andean communities in countries such as Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Chile and northern Argentina.
This festival, apart from being full of colors, traditional music, beautiful and unique dances in our country, also lets us know how our ancestors revered and had respect for nature through festivals and ceremonies, especially the “SUN” the main one. god of Inca mythology, that is why we will go back in time and learn a little about his history.
Inti Raymi, which translates to “Festival of the Sun” in Quechua, the language of the Inca, has its origins deeply embedded in the religious practices of the ancient civilization. The Inca believed that Inti, the Sun God, was the ancestor of the royal Inca lineage, and the festival served as a time to honor and seek blessings for a bountiful harvest and prosperity.
Initially, this important festival was established by the great Inca Pachacuteq, it was celebrated every June 24 during the winter solstice in the capital of the Inca empire, in the city of Cusco. Several chroniclers agree that this was the most important festival of the empire, as the mestizo chronicler Inca Garcilaso de la Vega tells us that it lasted up to 15 days where it was full of dances and sacrifices, likewise the chronicler Guaman Poma de Ayala who through his drawings gives us to better understand how they did it.
At this time, the extirpation of idolatry began, a time when the Spanish forced the indigenous people to reject their gods, and it was initiated by FRANCISCO DE ÁVILA, considered the promoter of the extirpation of idolatries.
The Fifth Viceroy of Peru FRANCISCO DE TOLEDO prohibited any type of celebration of the Andean deities, since it was against the Catholic faith, but the indigenous people continued to celebrate it secretly without the Spanish realizing it, but unfortunately when they were discovered, their Gods were destroyed and burned, after this event, the punishments towards the indigenous people were stronger if they did not comply with these restrictions, so the Andeans had to accept reality and adapt to this new custom.
Finally, more than 400 years had to pass until in 1944, the Inti Raymi was reinstated in Cusco at the initiative of the Cusco artist Faustino Espinoza with some variations with respect to the original rite.
Thus, on June 24, 1944, the Inti Raymi festival was staged for the first time in the city of Cusco. This celebration was made up of an entourage, soldiers, acllas, important figures such as the high priest, the nobility and the royal family. by the Inca, the Coya and the Auqui (crown prince), was celebrated in the Sacsayhuaman fortress and had the President of the Republic, MANUEL PRADO UGARTECHE, as the guest of honor, and thus they began with the staging of this great festival in the city of Cusco where they continue to do it to this day
Inti Raymi stands as a shining example of cultural continuity, a celebration that bridges the gap between the ancient Inca civilization and the modern-day Peruvian society. It is more than just a festival; it is a living testament to the resilience and endurance of a rich cultural heritage. As the sun sets on the ceremonial grounds of Sacsayhuaman each year, it marks not only the end of a spectacular event but also the continuation of a tradition that has withstood the test of time, reminding us of the profound connections between humanity and the cosmos.
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