Inti Raymi
To sun-worshiping Incas, the rite of Inti Raymi, a tribute to the Sun God Apu Inti Tayta, marked the most important date on their calendar. The winter solstice (we are south of the equator so the shortest day of the year is June 21) represented both the beginning of a new cycle and the return of the source of life to the Andes. The Incas measured the length of the days and knew the sun was the farthest away at the winter solstice. This festival begged the sun to return on its path towards longer days, while celebrating the start of a new year.After the Spanish conquest, the date of Inti Raymi was changed to coincide with the Catholic feast of St. John the Baptist. Today, Inti Raymi is one of the largest pageants in South America, and a source of great cultural pride to Peruvians.
Inti Raym
Inti Raymi
