by Jaimela King

Created on: February 23, 2009   Last Updated: March 27, 2009

It is one of the biggest, most awe inspiring spectacles of pre-Hispanic celebrations. The Inti Raymi Festival pays homage to the sun, capturing the majestic splendor of an historic Inca ceremony. Today the scripted extravaganza of an ancient ritual, is played out in Cusco, the former capital of the Inca empire.

Long before the Viceroy Toledo classified the Inti Raymi Festival in 1572 as a pagan and it was banned, the residents would gather each winter solstice to pay homage to the Sun God. It was a Pagan ceremony that was intricately linked with their agrarian lifestyle and the hope for a great harvest. The central role played by the sun god can be seen in the buildings constructed by the Incas. One example is the exquisitely decorated Koricancha, decorated with weavings and metals honoring the Inti.

The Inti Raymi also called, Festival of the Sun, lasted 9 days during the Inca Empire's heyday. In the presence of the Emperor of Inca, the ceremony was dominated by colorful processions and dancing. Animal sacrifice was integral to the ceremony with the hope of securing a good harvest. At the festival, the Inti was represented by a gold sculpture dressed in precious weavings of the Incan empire. Toasts with a special drink were made to the Emperor, the gods, the land and to visitors.

The first stage presentation of the Inti Raymi since the 16th century was reported to be organized by elders of Cusco in 1928. It was then referred to as the Defense and Taking of the Fortress of Saqsaywaman. In this presentation, a group of teachers performed with the participation of 100 Indians, whose part was to keep the Virgins of the Sun safe. Another main character was the Inca Cahuide, a mythical character who wore specially designed costumes for the occasion, along with his followers.

It wasn't, however, until 1944 that the Inti Raymi ceremony was reconstructed and performed annually on June 24th at Sacsayhuamn, which is a short 2 KM from Cusco. Today, the ceremony hosts some 100,000 visitors and is a magnificent spectacle of color, pomp and majesty. The scene is scripted by several historians, archaeologists and professors, enacted by a cast of thousands, giving thanks to the god Inti.

On festival day, Sapa Inca invokes blessings from the sun in the Qorikancha Square in front of the Santo Domingo church. This is an appropriate location for the start of the festival since the church is built over the ruins of the ancient Temple of the Sun. Carried aloft on a replica of the original

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