Inti Raymi
inti raymi quechua inti festival traditional religious ceremony inca empire honor god inti quechua sun venerated deity inca religion celebration winter solstice – shortest day year term time sunrise sunset – inca new year hour light would begin lengthen celebrated june inti raymi important festival inca empire described inca garcilaso de la vega took place haukaypata main square cusco today festival recognized secondlargest festival south america important wellattended celebration year cusco attracting thousand visitor across peru around world according chronicler garcilaso de la vega sapa inca pachacuti created inti raymi celebrate new year andes southern hemisphere ceremony also said symbolize mythical origin inca people lasted nine day filled colorful dance procession well animal sacrifice thank pachamama ensure good harvest season first inti raymi last inti raymi inca emperor presence carried spanish colonist catholic priest banned ceremony inca religious practice historical reconstruction inti raymi directed faustino espinoza navarro indigenous actor first reconstruction based largely chronicle garcilaso de la vega referred religious ceremony since annual theatrical representation inti raymi taking place saksaywaman june two kilometer mile original site celebration central cusco attracts thousand tourist local visitor inti raymi still celebrated indigenous culture throughout andes celebration involve music wearing colorful costume notable woven aya huma mask sharing food many part andes though celebration also connected western catholic festival saint john baptist june fall day southern winter solstice june celebration today begin qorikancha followed plaza de armas important site incan time inti raymi traditionally performed three historical natural setting commonly used staging artist typical garment engage diverse presentation including dance performance event primarily take place temple qorikancha archaeological park sacsayhuaman plaza de armas main square cusco celebration begin temple historically primary site sun worship tawantinsuyu contemporary ceremony unfolds retinue proceeds along loreto street inti kijllu toward plaza de armas formerly referred auqaypata warrior square location host ritual coca rite meeting time inca meet city mayor exchange khipu representing three power munay want yachay know llankay work situated approximately one kilometer qolqanpata inca neighborhood archaeological site serf focal point central ceremony includes ceremonial sitting report suyos region offering qollasuyu kuntisuyu antisuyu chinchaysuyu rite chicha rite sacred fire inka llama sacrifice andean camelid omen rite sankhu holy bread q’ochurikuy popular worship celebration sun inti raymi cultura interactiva