Every June 24 the Inti Raymi–or the festival of the Sun–is celebrated in magical Cusco. The Inti Raymi coincides with the Winter Solstice and is a tribute to the Incan Sun God, Inti. In Quechua, Inti means Sun and Raymi means celebration–and the Inti is the most venerated god in the Incan religion. The Inti Raymi also marks the first day of the New Year in the Incan calendar.
I am lucky enough to be here in Cusco during the Inti Raymi. If you’re planning on experiencing the festival, start your day early so that you can grab a prime spot along the route of the procession or in the Plaza de Armas. This is especially important if you’re short, because the crowds get deep and by the time the procession starts at 10AM, you’ll be tough out of luck. If you’re an especially early riser, you might even consider ordering some breakfast and a coffee at one of the numerous restaurants that have a second floor balcony overlooking the square. You’ll have a birds eye view of the procession below.
The procession begins near the Qurikancha and the Convent of Santo Domingo and makes its way towards the Plaza de Armas.
I took the following photos as the procession entered the Plaza de Armas–the main square in Cusco.
The procession ends with the Inti. After the procession, the festivities continue in the square, but it eventually heads to its final destination–Sacsayhuamán. Sacsayhuamán is an Incan archeological site that sits on a steep hill that overlooks the city of Cusco. The official Inti Raymi festivities end around 5pm.
I’m of Mexican descent and half my DNA comes from the native peoples of the Americas–so experiencing the Inti Raymi has been an especially emotional experience. I can’t help but feel connected to these proud people, maintaining their traditional ways, honoring our Mother Earth, and resisting complete acculturation amidst a seemingly hegemonic and Eurocentric western civilization. Qúe viva siempre la cultura Inca!
Traveling Fern 