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The
Winter Solstice in the southern hemisphere and
the local harvests are the driving force behind
the greatest, most majestic pre-Hispanic ceremony
to render homage to the sun. Today, the Inti Raymi
festival evokes the splendid Inca ritual of yore,
being carefully scripted by Cusco professors,
archaeologists and historians. The central event
is acted out on the esplanade below the imposing
fortress of Sacsayhuamán,
2 km outside the city of Cusco, easily reached
by car or on foot. There, step by step, thousands
of actors enact a long ceremony giving thanks
to the sun god, Inti. The Inca ruler is borne
on a royal litter from the Koricancha, or
Temple of the Sun to the Huacaypata, the city's
main square, where he commands the local authorities
to govern fairly. Then all the participants set
out for Sacsayhuamán, where the ceremony calls
for the sacrifice of two llamas, one black and
one white. The llamas' entrails and fat are handed
to a pair of high priests: the first, the Callpa
Ricuy, examines the intestines to predict what
sort of year lies ahead; while the second priest,
the Wupariruj, makes his predictions based on
the smoke that wafts up from the burning fat.
The high priests' predictions are then interpreted
by the Willac Umo, the lord high priest, who bears
the news to the Inca. Finally, at sunset, the
Inca orders all to withdraw from the site, and
the entire city breaks out into a festivities
that will rage for several days. |
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