Peru_Inti_Raymi

Inti Raymi was the biggest and most important ceremony carried out in Inca times. They were worshiping Apu Inti (Sun God) and it was performed every year on the winter solstice in the Aucaypata plaza (main plaza) in Cuzco, Peru.

The ceremony was important because in the Inca people believed they were descendants of the Sun. The ceremony was carried out at the end of the potatoes and maize harvest period in order to thank the Sun for the abundant crops or, otherwise, in order to ask for better crops the next season.

Some historians suggest that this ceremony was started inside the "Korikancha" temple (Golden temple) in view of the Sun icon that was highly polished gold. During the ceremony the reflection would have been blindingly brilliant. Later, the Inca king would go to Aukaypata Plaza through the "Intik'iqllu" or "Street of the Sun" (present-day Loreto street) in order to witness the llama sacrifice.

The "Willaq Uma" (highest priest) had to perform the llama sacrifice offering a completely black or white llama. With a sharp golden knife called a "tumi" he had to open the animal's chest and with his hands pull out its throbbing heart and lungs. From observing these organs he could foretell the future. Later, the animal was completely incinerated. After the sacrifice, the priest had to produce the sacred fire. Staying in front of the Sun, he had to get its rays in a concave gold medallion that contained some soft or oily material in order to produce the fire that had to be kept alight during the next year in the Korikancha temple.

Subsequently, the priests offered the "sanqhu" (a holy bread) prepared from maize flour and the blood of the sacrificed llama. Once all the ritual stages of the Inti Raymi were finished, all the attendants went to Kusipata plaza (present-day Plaza del Regocijo) where after being nourished, people were entertained with music, dancing and plentiful supplies of "chicha" (maize beer).