What is the Inti Raymi? - A brief history of one of the most important festivals in Latin America.

The Inti Raymi ( " the festival of the sun " ) , was carried out at the end of June , that is, at the winter solstice when the sun has the biggest distance to the equator, this is the shortest day of the year, and the longest night. It is also when harvest begins.

As the Inti or Sun ensures the continuity and renewal of life, its beneficial sunshine encourages good crops and health.

According to old legend, the Inti energy complemented the Earth ( Pachamama) and allowed for the continuation and extension of life in the Hanan Pacha (the upper world ), the Kay Pacha , or present and tangible world and the lower world, Ucu Pacha .

During the time of the Incas, the Inti Raymi was the most important festival celebrated in Cusco as related by Inca Garcilaso. The festival lasted 15 days, during which time there were dances and sacrifices.

In 1572 the viceroy Francisco de Toledo (1515-1584) forbade it as it was considered a pagan ritual contrary to the Catholic faith, nevertheless many continued to celebrate the festival in clandestine locations.

A historical reconstruction of the Inti Raymi was made based on the chronicles of Garcilaso de la Vega in 1944. From that date onwards, the ceremony became a great public attraction and event in both Peru and Latin America and was held on June 24.

How was the Inti Raymi Ceremony performed?

On the eve of the celebration, there was a gathering of the most important people of the empire in the main square of Cuzco, including generals, princes, governors and the Emperor Inca himself, all finely dressed and wielding their shields and their sceptres.

In the shadows, the crowd waited with great respect and in silence for the appearance of the sun god.

The Inca, the priests and the people paid homage to the sun god for the harvest, thanked him and asked him to re- fertilize the earth and to continue to give comfort to the children of Tawantinsuyu (the Inca Empire).

In charge of the ceremony was the Willaj Uma (high priest) wise in knowledge and who was able to interpret the messages of nature and warn man about the presence of another cycle, with the different characteristics of life.

The intensity and colour of the first sun rays on the morning of the celebration of Inti Raymi indicated an abundant or a poor harvest. The sacrifice of the white llama at the time of the ceremony was traditional and the animals various internal organs were examined to determine the conditions for good health or disease in the people or animals of the region.

8th April 2024
The Peruvian Government in Charge of organizing the Inti Raymi Festival stablished that the last date for subscription for all the government and private entities that will participate in the execution of the Inca Festival will be until 11th of April. The final programme of activities for the Inti Raymi Festival will be launched on the second week of May. Source. Empresa Municipal de Festejos del Cusco.