The Inti Raymi festival is the second largest festival in South America and occurs each winter solstice in Cuzco, Peru. Tens of thousands of people come to Cuzco from other parts of Peru and South America for a celebration that lasts an entire week and marks the beginning of a new year; the Inti Raymi, or Festival of the Sun.
There are many events and activities in the Inti Raymi festival, including street fairs, and parades featuring traditional costumes and dancing in the streets. During the evenings, there are free concerts in the Plaza de Armas with music from the best of Peruvian musical groups.
June 24, the actual day of Inti Raymi, is when the celebrations begin. An actor is chosen to represent the Sapa Inca, or Inca Emperor, and his wife Mama Occla. He performs a ceremony first at Qorikancha behind which stands the Santo Domingo church which is located on top of the ruins of the ancient Temple of the Sun. Qoricancha or the Temple of the Sun was the most important temple in the Inca Empire dedicated to Inti, the sun god.
Blessings from the sun are invoked by the Sapa Inca. After the invocation, a golden throne carries the Sapa Inca in a magnificent parade to Sacsayhuamán, an ancient fortification which lies in the hills above the city of Cuzco. The high priests join the Sapa Inca, followed by officials of the court, nobles and others, all in elaborate costumes designed according to their rank, with gold and silver ornaments. The streets are decorated with flowers and the parade moves along to music and dancing. Large crowds wait at the ancient fortress of Sacsayhuamán for the arrival of the procession and the Sapa Inca.
After everyone has gathered at the main square of the fortress, the Sapa Inca, along with the priests and representatives of the Suyos perform a number of ceremonies. The Suyos comprise the Snake to represent the underworld, the Puma for life on earth and the Condor for the upper world of the gods.
Next follows a mock sacrifice of a white llama whose bloody heart is held aloft in honor of Pachamama, the earth mother. Originally the sacrifice was real. This sacrifice is done is to ensure that the earth will be fertile and in combination with the sun's light and warmth will provide a bountiful crop. The blood stains are then read by the priests to determine the future for the Incas.
At sunset, stacks of straw are set on fire and danced around to honor Tawantinsuty or the Empire of the Four Wind Directions. A parade back to the town of Cuzco ends the ceremony of Inti Raymi. Sitting on their thrones, the Sapa Inca and Mama Occla return to town whilst the representatives and priests of the Supas give various blessings to the accompanying crowds. The beginning of a new year has been declared.
