Every year on June 24, the city of Cusco becomes the scene of the Inti Raymi “festival of the Sun” in honor of a divinity.
The Inti Raymi was established by Pachacuteq Inka Yupanqui in 1430.
The festival was known at that time as wawa Inti Raymi (festival of the sun child) in reference to the rebirth of the sun with the winter solstice and the beginning of a new annual cycle.
The rituals of the festival were carried out in the Huaccay pata square (the main square of Cusco). square) with a duration of 15 days of ceremonies, dances and animal sacrifice.
But when the Spaniards arrived in Peru, they imposed a hard process of evangelization.
The last time the festival was held with the presence of the Inka was in 1535, the intiraymi was prohibited by Viceroy Francisco de Toledo in 1572, considering it pagan and contrary to the principles of the Catholic faith.
However, the party continued to be celebrated clandestinely for a few more years.
Cusco Inti Raymi
The chroniclers Guaman Poma de Ayala and Garcilaso de la Vega are key figures in understanding the importance of this celebration in the religious calendar of the Incas.
In addition to giving important details about its realization, in 1944 the Cusco artist Faustino Espinoza Navarro promoted the recovery of this festivity with the aim of attracting tourists to the city.
Currently, its celebration has become a popular tourist attraction for visitors from all over the world, in which more than 700 artists participate on stage and is witnessed live by more than 100,000 spectators, including tourists and locals.
The importance of the inti Raymi was recognized by the Peruvian state declaring it cultural heritage of the nation on March 2, 2001.
This year due to pandemic restrictions it is taking place without an audience but a government channel is broadcasting live.
With this we hope that all travelers feel safe traveling to Cusco, and what better if it is with us.
We invite you to learn more about our beautiful city, you can get more information by registering here.
Inti Raymi (Festiviti of the Sun) in Cusco
Written by Wayki Trek, 24/06/2021 9:09 pm
Every year on June 24, the city of Cusco becomes the scene of the Inti Raymi “festival of the Sun” in honor of a divinity.
The Inti Raymi was established by Pachacuteq Inka Yupanqui in 1430.
The festival was known at that time as wawa Inti Raymi (festival of the sun child) in reference to the rebirth of the sun with the winter solstice and the beginning of a new annual cycle.
The rituals of the festival were carried out in the Huaccay pata square (the main square of Cusco). square) with a duration of 15 days of ceremonies, dances and animal sacrifice.
But when the Spaniards arrived in Peru, they imposed a hard process of evangelization.
The last time the festival was held with the presence of the Inka was in 1535, the intiraymi was prohibited by Viceroy Francisco de Toledo in 1572, considering it pagan and contrary to the principles of the Catholic faith.
However, the party continued to be celebrated clandestinely for a few more years.
Cusco Inti Raymi
The chroniclers Guaman Poma de Ayala and Garcilaso de la Vega are key figures in understanding the importance of this celebration in the religious calendar of the Incas.
In addition to giving important details about its realization, in 1944 the Cusco artist Faustino Espinoza Navarro promoted the recovery of this festivity with the aim of attracting tourists to the city.
Currently, its celebration has become a popular tourist attraction for visitors from all over the world, in which more than 700 artists participate on stage and is witnessed live by more than 100,000 spectators, including tourists and locals.
The importance of the inti Raymi was recognized by the Peruvian state declaring it cultural heritage of the nation on March 2, 2001.
This year due to pandemic restrictions it is taking place without an audience but a government channel is broadcasting live.
With this we hope that all travelers feel safe traveling to Cusco, and what better if it is with us.
We invite you to learn more about our beautiful city, you can get more information by registering here.
Festivals