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The Inti Raymi FestivalLocation: Rediscover Machu Picchu > Travelling & Activities > The Inti Raymi Festival -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Colourful Festival of the Sun
Inti Raymi - brings back the Inca times!
The Incas have always venerated the Sun God, Inti. This tradition is continued in the form of periodically-held festivals. Today, many of the people taking part at the Inti Raymi Festival are actually Christians, Roman Catholics. But due to the cultural importance, the ceremonies are reproduced every year. Quechuans are highly conservative and their ancient symbols and rituals are well kept, used even today, despite the fact that Christianity has become dominant in Peru.
The Inti Raymi Festival is held in Cuzco (Cusco) and Sacsayhuamán every year on June 24th. It is best for you to visit Peru in a time interval that contains this date and take your time to attend this colourful event!
There is another festival called Moray Raymi, which is held at Moray.
What is the Inti Raymi?
The ceremony marks the beginning of the Inca new year and it is dedicated to the Sun God, Inti. The event includes ceremonial dances, but in ancient times there also were animal sacrifices (offerings to the gods).
Today's Inti Raymi and Moray Raymi are reconstitutions of the ancient ceremonies, which were banned by the Spaniards in the 1500s due the their non-Christian nature.
The first Inti Raymi ceremony had taken place about 500 years ago.
Today the festival starts in Cuzco city, from there the locals go out to the fortress of Sacsayhuamán. Locals dressed colourfully gather in Cuzco and walk to Sacsayhuamán. The most impressive part of the event is held in Sacsayhuamán. When there, you will even see a person impersonating the Inca Emperor.
The dresses that are used today and the music played by the locals reflect much of the original ones hundreds of years ago, but these are not identical ones. Some are made "nicer", more colourful also to attract more tourists. Unfortunately this beautiful event was banned for centuries by the Catholic Church, but today's Quechuans are teaching their children about their values and are very determined to keep them alive for further generations.
Chronicle writer Garcilaso de la Vega had left behind good descriptions about the rituals that were performed hundreds of years ago. Most of what you will see at the Inti Raymi Festival is traditional, original.
This event is a very good opportunity for immortalizing beautiful colourful moments during your trip to Peru.
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