Amid the rugged heights of the Peruvian Andes, the ancient festival of Inti Raymi returned with full splendour on Monday, drawing thousands of spectators to the stone ruins of Sacsayhuaman near Cusco for a dramatic reenactment of the sacred Incan sun ritual.
Celebrated annually on the winter solstice in the Southern Hemisphere, Inti Raymi – meaning “Festival of the Sun” in Quechua – pays tribute to Inti, the revered Sun God and supreme deity of the Inca civilisation. This year’s festivities, observed on June 24, brought together hundreds of performers, many of Indigenous descent, who portrayed Inca nobility, priests, warriors, and commoners in a vibrant tribute to their ancestors.
The ritual, originally established in the 15th century by the Inca Emperor Pachacuti, was once the most important religious ceremony of the Inca Empire. It symbolized the renewal of life and the cosmic bond between the sun and the earth, ensuring a prosperous agricultural season. Though banned by Spanish colonizers in the 16th century due to its spiritual significance, the tradition endured in secrecy for generations before being revived publicly in the 20th century.
Draped in traditional Andean attire and rich with ceremonial dances, chants, and offerings, this year’s Inti Raymi unfolded beneath clear Andean skies. The procession began at the Qoricancha (Temple of the Sun) in Cusco’s city center and concluded at Sacsayhuaman, where a symbolic sacrifice and blessing were performed, echoing the grandeur of pre-Columbian rites.
Narrated in Quechua, Spanish, and English, the celebration not only mesmerized locals and tourists but also served as a cultural bridge uniting Peru’s Indigenous heritage with its modern identity. For many in the region, the festival is more than a performance; it is a living affirmation of Inca ancestry and Andean resilience.
Inti Raymi remains a powerful symbol of Peru’s Indigenous pride, spiritual continuity, and cultural preservation. As it grows in international recognition, the festival continues to draw global attention to the legacy of one of the world’s most formidable ancient civilizations.
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