We were lucky to time our visit Cusco during the Festival of Inti Raymi - the Inca Festival of the Sun. We were in Machu Picchu on the day of Winter Solstice. Inti Raymi Festival was on June 24th and celebrates the importance of the Sun to the Inca people.
The Festival is 3 parts with the first part at Qorichancha:
We started the morning watching a ceremony at Qoricancha - The Inca temple (the foot of the Puma). The Spanish built a church and convent over the top of the Temple ruins. But the grounds are used in the festival.
Soldiers enter the grounds from the street first and then the other participants enter the terrace of the temple - a pronouncement is made by the Inca King to start the festival.
The city is filled with people - tourists and the Andean people alike to watch the ceremonies.
No comments:
Post a Comment