Inti Raymi: A One Of A Kind Tradition

With the arrival of the winter solstice, every June 22 in Ecuador and every June 24 in some Andean countries, the largest and most solemn religious festival of the year takes place, the “Inti Raymi” or the festival of the sun, an ancestral celebration. Of gratitude to one of the most important deities of the Inca culture, the “Apu Inti” (Sun God) and his revival that begins the new annual cycle according to the Inca calendar. From the Andean worldview there is the thought that “nothing dies or ends, on the opposite, it is a continuous revival” which is why Inti Raymi means a new beginning, a revival, the beginning of new hopes, new illusions and gratitude to Pachamama or mother earth for the kindness of having allowed a good production and harvest. Stay! and discover more about the Inti Raymi.

Where Is inti Raymi celebrated?

As I mentioned before, Inti Raymi is celebrated in several Andean countries such as Peru, Colombia, Bolivia, Argentina and Chile where their rituals have in common the worship of the “sun god”. In Ecuador, Inti Raymi is celebrated especially in the Andean region, and each province does it differently depending on the traditions of the indigenous culture.

Inti Raymi history

The Inti Raymi was instituted by the Inca Pachacutec in the 1430s. At the time of the Inca empire, the Inti Raymi was the most important ceremony, because in addition to signifying gratitude to the different deities for agricultural production, it was also a way of guaranteeing a good harvest season for the next period.

On the eve of the festival, the people of Tahuantinsuyo put out their torches to wait with open arms for the sunrise and the next morning the city was filled with a great joy.  This celebration lasted about 15 days, during which people gathered to perform rituals of gratitude, so the whole of city became a public festival full of dance, music and plenty of food. It is said that during this time nearly 200 llamas were sacrificed in honor of the Sun God.

With the arrival of the Spanish, Inti Raymi was canceled considering it a pagan celebration, however, this celebration continued to be held clandestinely for more than four centuries, maintaining its ancestral heritage amid the repression of the Spanish conquerors.

Inti Raymi traditions  

During Inti Raymi, it is common to dress in typical indigenous costumes, including many diamonds, gold, silver and feather decorations. It is also tradition to sing folk music accompanied by musical instruments such as the guitar and harmonica. In the Inti Raymi dance and food also have an important place and of course we cannot forget to mention the traditional “Chicha” (traditional indigenous drink) which is present throughout the celebration.

Inti Raymi in Ecuador:  

In Ecuador the Inti Raymi has a more spiritual focus, it involves purification baths (Armay Chisi) to cleanse and purify the body and soul, in this way negative energies are eliminated and the connection with the “pacha mama” is renewed for the Inti Raymi. Normally this ritual is performed with the help of a “Shaman”, the ritual consists of taking a bath at midnight in the cold waters of waterfalls, rivers or lagoons.

In Ecuador during Inti Raymi, it is traditional to do the “Pambamesa”, an ancestral ritual that consists of tasting typical foods from the Andean region such as corn, potatoes, beans, among others, combined with different meats, especially guinea pig (traditional Andean protein).   It is important to mention that for indigenous peoples, food reflects community and unity, which is why in the “Pambamesa” all the food that people bring to share is placed on a tablecloth to enjoy this moment together.

And continuing with traditions, no Ecuadorian celebration would be complete without music and of course the Inti Raymi is no exception, local musicians are in charge of playing traditional songs inviting people to “zapatear” in other words dance to the beat of San Juanito (typical musical genre) with the objective of attracting the attention of Pacha Mama. But don’t worry, this dance is one of the simplest in Ecuador as it consists of tapping your feet on the ground to the beat of the music, so be prepared!  Zapatea! Zapatea! (Tap, tap!).

And since in every celebration there is always a protagonist, we cannot talk about Inti Raymi without mentioning the colorful “Aya Huma” (the spirit of the mountain), or as it is commonly known “Huma devil”.  This is the main character in Inti Raymi and is easy to recognize by his mask with two faces that represent the duality of day and night, bad and good, the sun and the moon in addition to the hanging cloth snakes on his mask that represent wisdom for indigenous peoples. He also usually carries a whip, a symbol of power and authority to scare away the demons that roam among the crops. The Huma beech is the soul of the party because throughout the celebration you will see him dancing or singing musical instruments, encouraging people to join this incredible celebration.

Where is Inti Raymi celebrated?

Cotacachi: Where the celebration usually begins with a purification ritual at Cuicocha Lake and then gathers in the main plaza to the beat of music and folk dance, this expression is one of the most important and is called “toma de la plaza” because in This is where people gather in order to express their constant struggle and say <<They haven’t defeated us, we’re still here>>. This act is remembering of the repression of these people by the conquerors many years ago.  

Otavalo and Peguche: The Inti Raymi usually begins with a purification bath at midnight in the famous “Peguche waterfall”, then a parade takes place until reaching the “Plaza de los Ponchos” where the party continues with music, dance and lots of “chicha” (traditional Andean drink)

Cochasquí: This archaeological site known as the Cochasquí pyramids located between Quito and Otavalo is usually occupied to offer plants and food in a circular manner and dance in gratitude to the Pacha Mama. Normally the community members are the ones who start this ritual.

Ingapirca: At the north of the city of Cuenca, the “Ingapirca ruins” are located, famous for being the best-preserved Inca ruins in Ecuador. In this place hundreds of indigenous people gather to perform parades, dances and sing Andean music to celebrate the Inti Raymi.

Saraguro: Located between the cities of Cuenca and Loja is the Saraguro town where the Inti Raymi takes it much more seriously, since the Saraguro people many years ago were the inner circle of “Huayna Capac” (Inca emperor) brought to Ecuador by the Incas from southern Peru and Bolivia to start a new Inca colony. This is why Inti Raymi is one of the most important festivities for them.

Inti Raymi facts: 

The inti Raymi is a space to learn about the Ecuadorian Andean culture and immerse yourself in its history and celebration of one of the largest and most anticipated celebrations of the year. If you are planning to attend, here are some tips to make your experience more satisfactory.

First, wear comfortable clothing appropriate to the climate. Don’t forget that Inti Raymi takes place outdoors and can get very hot and also cold at night. You should also bring sunscreen and water to protect yourself from the sun and stay hydrated throughout the day.

Another tip I give you is to arrive early so you don’t miss any parade and main ceremony as the streets tend to fill up quickly and don’t leave without tasting the delicious traditional food offered during the festival and bringing souvenir crafts to support the artisans. local.

And finally, enjoy and immerse yourself in the magic of Inti Raymi, be part of this unique ancestral celebration, take home the experience and memory that will accompany you forever, you will not regret it!