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Peruvian Fiestas : Inti Raymi

INTI RAYMI

One of the biggest and most impressive celebration, a homage to the Sun, an important God in Inca Culture. The main part of the day takes place at the Ruins of Sacsahuaman, a beautiful natural scenery at 2 kms from Cusco of the large ceremony, an acknowledgment to the Sun.

The ceremony starts earlier the same day at the Koricancha (the Temple of the Sun, in the city of Cusco) and at the Plaza de Armas (the Haucaypata, in Inca times). Around noon the participants go to Sacsahuaman, together with the thousands of national and international tourists that came especially to see this impressive ceremony, where two llamas are sacrificed.

June 24th, one of the shortest day on the southern hemisphere, was organized by the Incas (possibly on June 21th), because they were afraid that the Sun (their Father) would abandon them (his sons).