The Qoyllur Riti festival is one of the most important celebrations in the Andean world. This ancestral event attracts thousands of pilgrims who participate in a pilgrimage filled with rituals and traditions.
The pilgrimage and associated festival was inscribed in 2011 on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists!
The Journey Begins
The journey to Qoyllur Riti begins in Cusco at the Casa de la Juventud indoor coliseum, located about 10 minutes from the historic center. Buses and minivans depart from here for Mahuayani, a trip that takes approximately four hours. Upon arriving in Mahuayani, pilgrims start a two to three-hour hike to the sanctuary of the Señor de Qoyllur Riti.
Preparing for the Hike
In Mahuayani, travelers can buy essential supplies for the journey, such as coca leaves, alcohol, and food. The hike starts at an altitude of around 4000 meters above sea level. Pilgrims need thermal clothing, hats, and gloves due to the intense cold at higher altitudes.
The Route and Sights
Traditional wood-fired kitchens, where locals prepare food for the pilgrims, can be seen along the hike. The route offers panoramic views of the town and the arrival of buses filled with people from Cusco, Madre de Dios, Lima, and the Sacred Valley.
Celebrations at the Sanctuary
Once at the sanctuary, the celebration becomes more intense. Groups and nations from different regions participate with songs and dances, paying homage to the Señor de Qoyllur Riti. This religious fervor unites thousands who, despite the cold and altitude, continue with their rituals and traditions throughout the night.
Essential Stops
Along the way, pilgrims find makeshift shops set up by locals, selling hot drinks like punch and tea. These stops are essential for warming up. Symbolic products such as pictures, licenses, titles, houses, and land plots are also sold. Once blessed, pilgrims take these items home, hoping their wishes come true.
Night Vigil and Rituals
Various groups make their entrance at the sanctuary, performing traditional rituals and dances. The night is significant as pilgrims spend it in vigil, singing and dancing in honor of the Señor de Qoyllur Riti.
Main Day Celebrations
On the main day, the sanctuary’s esplanade fills with pilgrims from different places. Blessing masses are celebrated, and the traditional touching of the image of Jesus Christ in the sacred huaca occurs, an act of deep devotion.
Symbolic Wishes
One notable aspect of the festival is the symbolic construction of wishes. Many people build miniature houses, bank deposits, or celebrate symbolic marriages. They place these representations at the feet of the Lord of Qoyllur Riti, hoping their wishes will materialize.
Historical Significance
The festival has deep roots and showcases the cultural resistance of the Andean peoples. Despite attempts at religious imposition during the Viceroyalty period, the Andean peoples maintained their beliefs and practices. The Qoyllur Riti festival proves this resistance and capacity for cultural adaptation and syncretism.
Each year, the festival adopts different nuances but always maintains its essence: a deep connection with nature, the earth, and the cosmos. This celebration is not only a display of religious devotion but also a reaffirmation of the cultural and spiritual identity of the people of the Andes!
Qoyllur Riti: The festival in a glacier.
28/05/2024 7:04 pm
The Qoyllur Riti festival is one of the most important celebrations in the Andean world. This ancestral event attracts thousands of pilgrims who participate in a pilgrimage filled with rituals and traditions.
The pilgrimage and associated festival was inscribed in 2011 on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists!
The Journey Begins
The journey to Qoyllur Riti begins in Cusco at the Casa de la Juventud indoor coliseum, located about 10 minutes from the historic center. Buses and minivans depart from here for Mahuayani, a trip that takes approximately four hours. Upon arriving in Mahuayani, pilgrims start a two to three-hour hike to the sanctuary of the Señor de Qoyllur Riti.
Preparing for the Hike
In Mahuayani, travelers can buy essential supplies for the journey, such as coca leaves, alcohol, and food. The hike starts at an altitude of around 4000 meters above sea level. Pilgrims need thermal clothing, hats, and gloves due to the intense cold at higher altitudes.
The Route and Sights
Traditional wood-fired kitchens, where locals prepare food for the pilgrims, can be seen along the hike. The route offers panoramic views of the town and the arrival of buses filled with people from Cusco, Madre de Dios, Lima, and the Sacred Valley.
Celebrations at the Sanctuary
Once at the sanctuary, the celebration becomes more intense. Groups and nations from different regions participate with songs and dances, paying homage to the Señor de Qoyllur Riti. This religious fervor unites thousands who, despite the cold and altitude, continue with their rituals and traditions throughout the night.
Essential Stops
Along the way, pilgrims find makeshift shops set up by locals, selling hot drinks like punch and tea. These stops are essential for warming up. Symbolic products such as pictures, licenses, titles, houses, and land plots are also sold. Once blessed, pilgrims take these items home, hoping their wishes come true.
Night Vigil and Rituals
Various groups make their entrance at the sanctuary, performing traditional rituals and dances. The night is significant as pilgrims spend it in vigil, singing and dancing in honor of the Señor de Qoyllur Riti.
Main Day Celebrations
On the main day, the sanctuary’s esplanade fills with pilgrims from different places. Blessing masses are celebrated, and the traditional touching of the image of Jesus Christ in the sacred huaca occurs, an act of deep devotion.
Symbolic Wishes
One notable aspect of the festival is the symbolic construction of wishes. Many people build miniature houses, bank deposits, or celebrate symbolic marriages. They place these representations at the feet of the Lord of Qoyllur Riti, hoping their wishes will materialize.
Historical Significance
The festival has deep roots and showcases the cultural resistance of the Andean peoples. Despite attempts at religious imposition during the Viceroyalty period, the Andean peoples maintained their beliefs and practices. The Qoyllur Riti festival proves this resistance and capacity for cultural adaptation and syncretism.
Each year, the festival adopts different nuances but always maintains its essence: a deep connection with nature, the earth, and the cosmos. This celebration is not only a display of religious devotion but also a reaffirmation of the cultural and spiritual identity of the people of the Andes!
Festivals