Cusco Inti Raymi the Festival of the Sun Full day

Today, it is the second largest festival in South America. Hundreds of thousands of people converge in Cuzco from other parts of the nation, South America and the world for a long week celebration that marks the beginning of a new year, the Inti Raymi, the Feast of the Sun.

Itinerario:

In the morning 08:00 am pick up from the hotel and transfer the Qoricancha beginning of Inti Raymi. In this place, the ceremony begins with an invocation by the Sapa Inca in the Qorikancha, also spelled Koricancha, in the square in front of the church of Santo Domingo, built on the ancient Temple of the Sun. Here the Sapa Inca asks the blessings of the sun. After the prayer, Sapa Inca moves on a golden throne, a replica of the original, weighing about 60 kilos, in a procession to the old fortress of Sacsayhuamán, in the hills of Cuzco. With the Inca Sapa come the high priests, dressed in ceremonial clothes, court officials, nobles and others, all richly dressed, according to their rank, adorned with silver and gold.

They walk along streets lined with flowers, music and prayers and dances. Women sweep the streets so that evil spirits disappear. In Sacsayhuamán, where large crowds await the arrival of the procession, Sapa Inca goes up to the sacred altar where everyone can see it.

Once all the celebrants are in place in the great plaza of the fort, there are speeches from Sapa Inca, priests and representatives of His: the serpent for the world below, the Puma for life on earth, And the Condor for the upper world of the gods.

A white flame is sacrificed (now in a very realistic stage act) and the high priest holds up the bloody heart in honor of Pachamama. This is done to ensure the fertility of the earth, which in combination with the light and heat of the sun provides a generous harvest. Priests, read the bloodstains to see the future for the Inca.

As the sun begins to set, piles of straw are lit with fire and the celebrants dance around them to honor the Tawantinsuty or Empire of the Four Wind Directions. In ancient times fire was not allowed until sunset.

The Inti Raymi ceremony ends with a procession back to Cuzco. Sapa Inca and Occla Mama ascend on their thrones, the high priests and representatives of the Supas pronounce blessings on the people. Once again, a new year has begun.