The Inti Raymi throughout time in Cusco

The Inti Raymi throughout time in Cuzco

The Inti Raymi is the most famous festival in Cusco. It is celebrated every June 24 as a tribute of the people of Cusco to their ancestors, the Incas. Cusco or Qosqo was the capital of the Inca empire, known as the center or navel of the world. There the Incas celebrated the Feast of the Sun, a religious and social festivity that lasted several days and included ceremonies of payments to the earth, offerings to the gods and rituals with the population. Today, the Inti Raymi is a tourist festival attended by thousands of visitors from all over the world. The most special function takes place in Sacsayhuaman. Learn more about the historical evolution of this festivity in Cusco, Peru.

The meaning and importance of Inti Raymi

• Inti Raymi is an Andean festival that dates back to Inca and pre-Inca times, originating from the winter solstice, which represented the shortest day and the longest night of the year.
• This festival extends throughout the Andean mountain range, including Bolivia, Ecuador, Colombia and Argentina, but in Peru, and specifically in Cusco, it is one of the most important ceremonies of the year.
• It is currently celebrated every June 24th in the city of Cusco, however, in its beginnings, it was held on June 21st, lasting 15 days, however, its preparations began well in advance.
• The words Inti Raymi, in the language of the Incas, mean “Festival of the Sun”. In the past, it was a religious rite in which the Incas worshipped the Sun God, performing different ceremonies, dances and sacrifices.
• For the Incas, this festival had a very special meaning, being for them, the rebirth of the Sun God, which marked the beginning of a new annual cycle.

The feast of the sun in Inca Cusco

• In the 1430s, during the Tahuantinsuyu empire, the Inca Pachacutec established the festival as part of a political-administrative reorganization. The center of the entire festivity was the cult of the Sun God.
• It was attended by the acllas (women of great beauty, destined to serve the Inca or the Sun God), ayllus (a group of families who inhabited a specific territory and had family relations), the Imperial Inca army, the representatives of each suyo (Collasuyo, Chinchaysuyo, Antisuyo and Contisuyo), as well as the other members of the Inca organization, accompanied by the entire population of Tahuantinsuyo.
• However, in the 16th century, Viceroy Francisco de Toledo banned the celebration, as he considered it a pagan festival contrary to Christian customs. Nevertheless, the ceremonies continued to be carried out secretly from the Spanish authorities.
• Thanks to Inca Garcilaso de la Vega, who compiled the most important aspects of these celebrations in his work “Comentarios Reales”, today it is possible to learn more about this festivity and continue with the Inca traditions, a sign of the great culture that Peru possesses.
• The last Wawa Inti Raymi performed in the presence of the Inca was on June 21, 1535.

The prohibition of the Inti Raymi in colonialism

• In the 16th century, with the arrival of the Spanish in Cusco, not only the Inti Raymi but also all the Inca religious festivities were eradicated because they were considered pagan and alien to the new Christian religion brought from the West.
• Even so, in secret, the original inhabitants continued to worship the elements of nature and the mummies of the Inca rulers, considered sacred. These were carried in procession through the city of Cusco. The Spanish stole and made the Inca mummies disappear. And, to more easily impose the new religion, they forced the local inhabitants to continue practicing the procession, but this time with the figures of Christian saints and virgins.
• As a result, the practice of Inti Raymi was eradicated, but the belief in the elements of nature such as mountains and the earth was not eliminated. During colonialism, these beings considered divine continued to be worshipped in secret. This belief persists to this day in the communities of the Andes Mountains.

The Inti Raymi Resurrection in Cusco

• It was in 1944 that, with the help of Humberto Vidal Unda and Faustino Espinoza Navarro, the “Inti Raymi” ceremony was reorganized as we know it today. They are credited with the recovery of the “Fiesta del Sol”. It is also believed that this festival had been celebrated secretly since the Viceroyalty of Francisco de Toledo, so that in this way, the people of Cusco could once again be part of the festival, which in Inca times was one of the most important in Peru.
• Humberto Vidal Unda was a Peruvian historian, philosopher and writer, known for promoting the revival of the Inca celebration and Faustino Espinoza Navarro was also a Peruvian writer and actor, who for many years represented the Inca in the Festivities of the Sun and was in charge of writing the script for this celebration, in Quechua.
• During this initiative, the “Inti Raymi” changed its date from June 21 to June 24, because President A. Leguía had decreed this date as the “Day of the Indian.” In turn, June 24 represents the festivity of San Juan, which granted a free and non-working day to the people of Cusco, to be able to be part of this important celebration.

The modern Inti Raymi in Cusco

• The first act begins in the Temple of Qoricancha: The Inca performs an invocation or salutation to the Sun, while the spectators wait on the esplanade. It lasts approximately 45 minutes, where the Acllas, musicians and dancers appear.
• The second act consists of the “Meeting of Times and the Coca Leaf Ceremony”, which takes place in the Plaza de Armas of Cusco. This ceremony lasts approximately 1 hour. There, the Inca and his entourage meet in the great ushnnu (ceremonial stage).
• The last act takes place on the esplanade of Sacsayhuamán. The central ceremony of the festival takes place there. It begins with the entrance of the Qoya and the Inca, accompanied by songs and dances, and ends with the sacrifice of an alpaca in honor of the Sun God. The approximate duration of this rite is 2 hours.
• This celebration hosts an average of 60,000 attendees from all over the world, who come together to experience this ancestral rite first-hand. It also features the participation of around 1,000 actors, including performers, musicians and dancers.
• Without a doubt, a festival with a great production, which year after year delights locals and foreigners. Since 2001, according to Law No. 27431, the “Inti Raymi” has been recognized as Cultural Heritage of the Nation, Official Act and Principal Ritual Ceremony of National Identity, taking place every June 24, in the Imperial city of Cusco.

Some tips for your visit to the Inti Raymi in Cusco

• Make sure you get in: The first two ceremonies are free, but they are very crowded, so arrive early to get the best spot. As for the third act, you can get tickets in advance on the teleticket website.
• Use sunscreen and wear comfortable clothing: The sun during this season tends to be strong, so using protection is necessary, as well as staying cool.
• Stay hydrated: As the previous point indicates, the weather tends to be a bit hot during the day, it is necessary to consume hydrating drinks.
• And last but not least: Plan your trip in advance, so that you are aware of the schedules of the festivities that Cusco has for you.

Questions and answers about Inti Raymi in Cusco history