10:50 | Puno (Puno region), Jun. 23.
More than 100,000 people, including Puno region residents and visitors, came together to participate in the 2025 edition of the world's longest Quqawi, held on Simon Bolivar Avenue.
Aimed at promoting unity and sharing, as well as preserving and revaluing cultural traditions, the event gathered a crowd along more than 20 blocks, according to the Municipality of Puno.
Puno Provincial Mayor Javier Ponce Roque highlighted the importance participation from residents, as well as from public and private institutions and organized unions, in this traditional activity.
The official emphasized the need to promote ancestral traditions and revalue the area's organic products, not only in Puno but also in countries like Bolivia, Chile, and Ecuador, where Quqawi is still practiced.
Likewise, he expressed the desire for this tradition to be recognized as part of the nation's cultural heritage.
What is the Quqawi?
The Quqawi is one of the most relevant collective expressions in this region.
It involves the preparation of fiambre with nutritious products such as meat, cheese, potatoes, chuño, broad bean, oca, corn, and onion with chili. Families in this region typically share at lunchtime, after a communal work session.
In this sense, the Quqawi is also considered one of the cleanest and most wholesome practices. The event organizers aim to highlight its cultural value so that it may endure over time.
This custom has gained new momentum in recent years due to the ban on the use of plastics and tupperware —a measure implemented by the Municipality of Puno that received a positive response from the population as part of an environmental and cultural awareness campaign.
Citizens showed exemplary commitment to protecting the environment and preserving tradition.
Massive participation
This event included the participation of 162 associations, merchants, educational institutions, neighborhoods, transportation workers, and other groups, all actively engaged throughout the day.
Simon Bolivar Avenue became an epicenter of fellowship, where more than 300 tenientes gobernadores (local community leaders), including those from other provinces, ensured order and respect during the event.
Quqawi 2025 began with arrival of authorities from both ends of the avenue. From the south, the municipal council and authorities from provincial institutions entered, while from the north came the Regional Government and its delegation.
Simultaneously, from the east side, the municipal authority entered accompanied by children and tenientes gobernadores. One of the most notable aspects of the day was the order, in contrast to previous years.
A moment that drew particular attention was the participation of a group of kindergarten children, who enthusiastically assembled their fiambre on a street near the event's central point.
This gesture demonstrated that the spirit of the Quqawi transcends generations and is instilled from an early age.
Quqawi 2025 was not only a showcase of the rich culture of Puno but also an example of organization and civic awareness.
This event set a precedent for future celebrations, consolidating the Quqawi as one of the most significant gatherings on Puno's calendar.
The local community and visitors enjoyed a day full of culture, tradition, and unity, reaffirming the region's community spirit.
The successful holding of Quqawi 2025 is a testament to Puno's commitment to its roots and its future.
(END) AAM/MAO/JMP/MVB
Published: 6/23/2025