Sacsayhuaman Archaeological Park on Sunday welcomed more than 50,000 domestic and foreign tourists, who witnessed the main festivity of the Inti Raymi or Sun Festival.
Likewise, some 50,000 people gathered on the surrounding hills with the purpose of seeing this impressive event.
It must be noted the
Inti Raymi had three scenes staged in three different places.
The first ceremony was held at Qoricancha Temple, where the Inca —escorted by his entourage— sang to the Inti (Sun God).
The second one took place at Cusco's main square, where the Inca reenacted the famous Two Worlds Encounter scene.
Lastly, the main ceremony was performed at Sacsayhuaman Fortress, one of Cusco's emblematic attractions.
Inti Raymi
The
Inti Raymi is a cultural manifestation that takes place once a year in Cusco —
capital of former Tahuantinsuyo Empire— between the end of the harvest period and the beginning of the vernal equinox of the Andes, in the second half of June.
Held between May and June, the observance served to welcome a new year and put the previous "crop year" in the past.
Shortly after that, the new agricultural cycle used to begin in July, so the period from the last week of June to early July was a transition time between the dying agricultural year and the new year to come.
Inca Pachacutec established the Festival of the Sun more than six centuries ago, and Cusco locals perform it with the same enthusiasm as their ancestors during the Inca period.
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