19:11 | Cusco (Cusco region), Jan. 17.
Full of charm and simplicity, famed U.S. actor
Robert De Niro wore a huacollo (head garment) and became —for a few minutes— a pilgrim of Lord of Qoyllurit'i, one of the most traditional festivities in Cusco.
People around him started to smile and welcomed the artist's spontaneity as he dressed like an "ukumary" or "pablito" from the Paucartambo nation.
According to
the tradition, pilgrims are divided into eight 'nations' corresponding to their villages of origin: Paucartambo, Quispicanchi, Canchis, Acomayo, Paruro, Tawantinsuyo, Ant, and Urubamba.
The piece of clothing, which represents an
Andean (spectacled) bear, was a present from one of the attendees at a special ceremony held in his honor.
The event was organized by Cusco Province Municipality and officiated by Mayor Victor Boluarte.
Visibly moved for receiving the
Illustrious Guest decoration and the Key to the Imperial City, the 75-year-old celebrity raised his hands and thanked authorities for such special deference.
Lord of Qoyllurit'i
The pilgrimage to the sanctuary of Lord of Qoyllurit'i combines elements from Catholicism and worship of pre-Hispanic nature deities.
It begins fifty-eight days after the Christian celebration of Easter Sunday, when 90,000 people from around Cusco travel to the sanctuary, located in Sinakara hollow.
The pilgrimage includes processions of crosses up and down the snow-capped mountain and a twenty-four-hour procession, during which the Paucartambo and Quispicanchi nations carry images of the Lord of Tayancani and the Grieving Virgin to the village of Tayancani to greet the first rays of sunlight.
Dance plays a central part in the pilgrimage. The Council of Pilgrim Nations and the Brotherhood of the Lord of Qoyllurit'i direct the pilgrimage activities, while "pablitos" or "pabluchas" —figures wearing garments of alpaca fiber and woven wool animal masks— maintain order.
The pilgrimage encompasses a broad variety of cultural expressions and constitutes a meeting place for communities from different Andean altitudes engaged in different economic activities.
De Niro's visit to Peru
The film star arrived last week as part of his first tourist visit to the Andean nation.
The following day, he visited Pedro de Osma Museum located in the capital city's traditional Barranco district.
The two-time Academy Award winner reached
Machu Picchu station in the afternoon on board The Private —an exclusive train service.
Within this framework, Mayor Darwin Baca presented De Niro with a Chacana (Inca Cross) —a symbol of Andean worldview and culture.
Likewise, De Niro was asked to sign the Golden Book, in which he wrote a message addressed to the people of Machu Picchu.
Career
De Niro is best known for his Oscar-winning roles in The Godfather II and Raging Bull, to name a few.
Other celebrated films include "Taxi Driver," "Once Upon a time in America," "The Untouchables," and "Casino."
He is well-known for his gangster roles and has played conflicting, turbulent characters as well.
(END) PHS/JOT/RMB/MVB
Published: 1/17/2019