INTI RAYMI

Inti Raymi, celebrated each year on the 24th of June, was celebrated by the Incas as the Festival of the Sun God. Inti Raymi symbolizes the marriage between the Sun God and his human sons, and was also considered the New Year to the Incas. While most cultures celebrate the solstice on June 21st, the Incas said that beginning on the 21st the sun stayed in the same place in the sky until rising to it´s highest point on June 24th, which they declared the New Year.

The original festival lasted three days, beginning on the day of the summer solstice, when the Incas began the chant at sunrise, getting steadily louder until the sun was high in the midday sky, then tapering off towards dusk. After the conquest of the Inca Empire the Inti Raymi Festival was suppressed by the Spanish and only revived in 1944.

Countless additional events are to be seen before, during and after the 24th. These are expositions, street and square activities during the day, and in the evening live concerts by some of the best of Peru's diverse musical talents, staged in the Plaza de Armas. The Inti Raymi festival is the second biggest festival in Latin America, after the Carnival of Rio (Brazil).

For the past decade the festival has begun at the archeological complex of Q´oriqancha, or Santo Domingo, along Avenida del Sol. The Sapa Inca, or ruling Inca, honors the blessings of the Sun on this most sacred day and is then carried to the Plaza de Armas, surrounded by locals dressed in traditional Inca clothing or as Inca soldiers. After a ceremony in the Plaza de Armas, lasting approximately 45 minutes and including dance and music, the Sapa Inca is carried uphill to Saqsayhuaman, followed by tourists and locals alike. Upon arriving at Saqsayhuaman, the Sapa Inca leads a llama sacrifice cermony, and the music and dancing continues for many hours.

It is said that the abundant gold and silver worn by the men and women represent their status as the high society and invokes deep respect for their fallen empire.

We invite you to watch the events in the Plaza de Armas during this special festival via our webcam!