CUSCO (Peru), Jun 26 (NNN-ANDINA) — Under a blue sky and a radiant sun, the Inti Raymi 2023 took place at the Sacsayhuaman Archaeological Park, located about 15 minutes from the city of Cusco.
The attendees were thrilled as they witnessed the presence of the Inca Pachacuteq, played by actor Robert Paucara Churana, as well as more than 850 participating artists, including the Qoya, who was portrayed by Karen Gonzales Saldivar, and the royal entourage.
The return of the Inti Raymi has seen an amazing response from the public.
The stands placed at Sacsayhuaman held more than 3,000 tourists, while some 20,000 people were spotted in the surrounding areas, including a large number of foreign visitors.
Since 1944, the evocation of the Inca ceremony has gained more relevance and new elements, such as a greater role for women in the celebration of the rites.
The Inca sang a song to the Inti (Sun God), his father. Then, he welcomed delegations from the Tahuantinsuyo, or Land of Four Quarters, which provided a summary of their production and their disagreements about climatic factors or punishments, which the Inca Pachacuteq was able to resolve after rejoicing before the Sun God.
Moreover, ancestral rites were performed in order to ask for good wishes from the Inti.
The highest ruler of the Tahuantinsuyo made an offering to the Sun, including chicha de jora (a corn beer or chicha), fire or wilka nina, and a llama sacrifice, whose heart and organs were incinerated to see the future, which was favorable according to the interpretation of his priests.
However, the leading role was played by the Coya, who highlighted Sank’u as the main food. The most prominent feature of this ceremony was the message of the Inca’s wife to preserve the food.
This year’s Inti Raymi represented the reunion between Cusco people and their traditions, as it used to be before the COVID-19 pandemic.
It also meant economic recovery and an opportunity to invite more tourists for the coming years, which was evidenced at the Inca temple of Qoricancha, where the Inca appeared and sang before an audience of thousands of people.
At that moment, the sovereign made his way to the bastions and received the Tahuantinsuyo delegations, which then joined him in his journey to Cusco’s Main Square or Hawkaypata.
His arrival at Qoricanchain (the second venue) aroused admiration and enthusiastic responses among attendees, who also enjoyed the dances representing the Four Quarters, which were performed across the three venues.
At Cusco’s Main Square (the third venue), a coca leaf ceremony was held and the highest ruler of Tahuantinsuyo called Cusco Province Mayor Luis Pantoja Calvo to give him the kh’ipu, with which he should govern the Imperial City. This act is known as the ‘Encounter of Two Worlds’.
The Peruvian National Police guaranteed the safety of attendees, while a group of citizens organized by the Municipal Company for Celebrations and Promotion of Cusco (Emufec) and the Ministry of Culture cleaned the archaeological park area immediately after the ceremony. — NNN-ANDINA
