7 interesting facts about INTI RAYMI. It is the right time to talk about this important date for Andean culture. Therefore, we are going to explore its origin, characteristics and where it is celebrated in Ecuador.
At the end of the article you will find an interesting documentary video about this important Andean celebration.
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Origin
Abya Yala, the true name of the continent, currently known as America, a name given by the Spanish, who “discovered” it or in other words, “covered up” it
Imposing their language, religion, customs and traditions on these ancient inhabitants, who logically also had their own practices, habits, worship and ancestral knowledge.
It is precisely in the southern part of Abya Yala, where the analysis of this celebration of great importance for the people is focused.
Abya Yala.– It means saved, preferred, beloved territory, and in a broad sense it can also mean mature land, land of blood.
América
The populations of America, before the arrival of the Europeans, had in a certain way, a development not only in agriculture, but also in their very similar cultural characteristics.
These similarities contributed to the development of the peoples, because their worldview, traditions and customs were very similar. Consequently, the peoples of the Northern Andes (now Ecuador) formed a single cultural unit with the Central Andes (Peru) and the Southern Andes (Bolivia).
With characteristics that prevail even today, for this reason it would be more appropriate to speak of Andean culture and civilization.
Ancestral Peoples
The Pacha Mama is considered the source of life and knowledge, for which she deserves all respect and admiration; Mother Earth is where the human being lives, it is the one that provides resources for survival, the food that is fundamental. 7 interesting facts about INTI RAYMI.
The original peoples with their vast experience, also managed to have a great understanding about nature, the elements of the climate; in a similar way the incidence of the star king and also of the moon, in the various aspects of life such as: […] sowing and harvesting, in fishing, their trips, in their cures, in their omens and in other beliefs and superstitions from where his universal and millenary cult resulted.
This Andean civilization reached an excellent mastery of the solar calendar (Inti-huata = solar year) and the lunar calendar (Quilla-huata = lunar year) coming to accurately identify the solstices and equinoxes, for which they built some buildings and temples .
With this notion they came to celebrate four main festivals: spring equinox (March 21) Paucar-Raymi or festival of the princess; autumn equinox (September 21) Koya-Raymi or festival of the Ñusta; winter solstice (December 21) Kapak-Raymi or festival of the Inca; and the summer solstice (June 21) Inti-Raymi or festival of the sun. The one we are going to see is the last one, the one held on June 21, where tribute is paid to the star king.
Worldwide celebration.
The similarity in the date of realization of the largest Andean festival is also found in Central America, this is how by references of the chroniclers who witnessed the events of the conquest of Mexico, it can be seen that their annual festival (of the Aztecs) They performed it on the day of the June solstice since the day came when the city (Tenochtitlan) used to celebrate the annual festival with great allegories.
The Mexicans who wanted to celebrate it according to the traditions inherited from their elders. Finally, they began a dance in which a large crowd participated, their bodies resplendent with the most precious ornaments of gold, silver, and pearls.
What is the INTI RAYMI?
The origin of the Inti Raymi dates back to the time of the great Inca rulers and to the cradle of their empire: Cusco.
There is no doubt that sun cults were also celebrated in the other Andean states, however, the festivity as it is known today is the result of a series of transformation and adaptation processes suffered over centuries whose essence has always been maintained. :
- Thank you for the harvests obtained.
- Exalt the fertility of mother earth.
Celebration in Ecuador.
In the same way Ecuador is part of this set of Andean civilizations, therefore the Inti Raymi is also celebrated in several places in the mountains of the country in the middle of the world, a broad vision will be given from the north to the south, analyzing the most important towns where this celebration takes place. 7 interesting facts about INTI RAYMI
In the northernmost province of Ecuador; Very characteristic features of the incidence of this celebration in the population can be observed.
In a small town near San Gabriel, belonging to the Montúfar canton, in the province of Carchi.
In the month of June, the festivity in honor of San Juan Bautista is celebrated, which coincides with the date of the festival of the sun.
Ingapirca.
Ingapirca is one of the most important archaeological sites in Ecuador, it is specifically related to two cultures: “Los Cañaris” and “Los Incas”. Consequently, this was a very important ceremonial center, specifically designed to measure the solstice. Over the years, the Inti Raymi has been celebrated there.
At the bottom we leave you a video of our trip in 2016 to this wonderful place in the province of Cañar.
Thank you very much for reading this interesting article, we invite you to review our tours by clicking on this link.
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