Overview:

is an ancient Inca festival that celebrates the winter solstice (which occurs in June). The festival has been celebrated for thousands of years in many communities throughout the Andes Mountains. During the festival, Incan rites and traditions are performed to honor Inti, the Incan god of the sun. There are parades, dance performances, music, and food. Each ceremony has its own meaning and its own special significance. The most important part of the Inti Raymi is the climax of the ceremony, when the Incan emperor offers a sacrifice of llamas to Inti, symbolically giving thanks for the blessings of a new year. It is one of the most beautiful monuments in Peru
Prominent Features:

The Inti Raymi festival – Festival of the Sun – is one of the most important festivals in Cusco, Peru. It is held annually on June 24th and is a celebration of the Inca Empire and its sun god, Inti. There are traditional dances, music, and costumes, as well as colorful decorations and rituals. The main event of this three-day celebration is the ceremonial procession of the Sapa Inca,which winds around Cusco from the Temple of the Sun to the Qorikancha (the Temple of the Sun). During the procession, the Sapa Inca makes offerings and prayers to the sun god, Inti. Other highlights of the festival include traditional games, processions of llamas, exhibitions of regional art, and displays of the Inca's impressive engineering and masonry skills. The festival culminates with the presentation of the sacred statue of the sun god to the crowd. You can learn history, culture, and heritage through these magnificent monuments in Peru.

History:

The Inti Raymi (Festival of the Sun) is an ancient festival celebrated by the Quechua people of the Andes mountains in Peru. The celebration has roots in Inca culture but evolved over the centuries. Inti Raymi is an ancient princely ceremony that honors Inti, the Inca Sun God. It is held during the winter solstice of the Southern Hemisphere (roughly June 21 in the Northern Hemisphere). The event has been celebrated since at least the 16th Century, which is when most accounts of its practice are recorded in Inca annals. In the present, it is celebrated in the ancient Incan capital of Cusco. The festivities span two days and include traditional rituals, dances, and feasts. The ceremonies are carried out by villagers, officials, and dignitaries, including the Qhapaq Nin (Inca Emperor). They all wear colorful costumes, headdresses, and jewelry in honor and remembrance of their ancestors. During the festival, offerings are presented to the sun god and effigies of him are paraded through the city streets. The celebration culminates in a reenactment of the ancient Incan coronation ceremony. During this time, priests bless the emperor, who is represented by an actor wearing traditional clothing, and a fire is lit in honor of the sun god. This tradition has become an important part of Peruvian culture and is considered a key part of understanding the cultural heritage of the Andean people. It is a time of celebration for Cusco, Peru, and serves as a reminder of its past. Visit one of the famous monuments of Peru with your friends and family.

Interesting facts:

1. Inti Raymi is an ancient Incan festival that celebrates the Winter Solstice. It takes place every June 24th and is one of the most important Incan festivals in Peru. 2. This festival was created by the last Inca emperor, Pachacutec. It is said that he celebrated the Sun god Inti (also known as the God of Light) and asked for an abundant harvest. 3. This festival involves a procession of costumed dancers, musicians, and priests that lead the way from Qorikancha (Temple of the Sun) to the main square of Cusco. 4. During the procession, the “Mama Raymi” or “Godmother of the Sun” carries a large ceremonial staff. The staff is covered with symbols of the Incan Empire such as the sun and other animals. 5. At the end of the procession, a sacrificial lamb is offered to Inti in the main square. 6. After the animal sacrifices, audiences enjoy a theatrical enactment of ancient Incan rituals. This includes Incan priests performing their traditional worship and the burning of coca leaves. 7. The festival ends with a large street parade, and fireworks. 8. Inti Raymi is known as the most spectacular festival in Cusco, attracting thousands of tourists each year. One of the historical monuments of Peru, it tells the story of a bygone era