Inti Raymi Full Day 2025

Overview

The «Inti Raymi» or «Festival of the Sun» is an ancestral celebration of great importance for the Inca Empire, which focused on the cult of «Apu Inti», or Sun God. This festival was a key manifestation of the Inca religion, intended to honor and thank the sun for its power and vital energy, essential for agriculture and life in general in Inca society.

During the Inti Raymi, the Inca’s subjects participated in religious rituals that included sacrifices and ceremonial dances. The celebration lasted for approximately 15 days, during which various rites and ceremonies were carried out in honor of the sun. These rituals were intended to ensure the continuity of harmony and balance in the universe, as well as the prosperity and well-being of the empire.

After the arrival of the Spanish and the conquest of the Inca Empire, Inti Raymi was banned by colonial authorities due to its pagan and non-Christian nature. However, the Incas continued to celebrate it in secret, keeping the tradition alive despite the restrictions imposed by the European conquerors.

The mestizo Inca Garcilaso de la Vega, famous for his «Royal Commentaries», provided valuable descriptions and stories about this ancient celebration in his writings. Thanks to its records, we can partly reconstruct the magnitude and importance that the Inti Raymi had for the Inca culture.

The last Inti Raymi that was carried out with the presence of the Inca Emperor was in the year 1535, just before the Spanish invaded and conquered the empire. Despite the imposition of Christianity and the suppression of many indigenous practices, the spirit of Inti Raymi endured in the hearts of the Inca people, reflecting their deep spiritual connection with the sun and nature.

The celebration of Inti Raymi

The Inti Raymi, or Festival of the Sun, was a highly ritualistic and symbolic ceremony for the Incas, marked by a series of ceremonial elements and traditions deeply rooted in Inca religion and culture.

1. Entrance of the Inca to Sacsayhuamán : When the Inca headed towards the main square or esplanade of Sacsayhuamán to begin the Inti Raymi, he was preceded by a group of acllas, chosen women who scattered flowers on his path. The Pichaq , men in charge of purifying and driving away evil spirits, accompanied him using straw brooms. Furthermore, the Inca was accompanied by his » kumillo «, a hunchbacked dwarf who carried the » Achiwa «, an umbrella made of colored feathers, symbolizing his status and divine power.
2. New Fire Ceremony : One of the central moments of Inti Raymi was the new fire ceremony. In this part of the celebration, the Inca ordered all fires in Cusco and its surroundings to be put out. Then, a new sacred fire was lit and distributed to each home and temple, symbolizing the renewal and purification of the agricultural and spiritual cycle.
3. Current Theatrical Performance : Today, Inti Raymi is celebrated as a theatrical performance in the city of Cusco, attracting thousands of visitors from all over the world. This representation is one of the most attractive cultural and traditional manifestations in the region, where the original rituals and ceremonies are recreated with great pomp and detail.

The continuity of the Inti Raymi over the centuries, adapting to new historical and social circumstances, demonstrates the deep connection of the Andean peoples with their pre-Hispanic past and the importance of keeping ancestral traditions alive as a fundamental part of their cultural identity.