Sun and Harvest Festivities
An explosion of colors, music and indigenous traditions in the Northern Sierra The Inti Raymi or "party of the sun and harvest" is one of the most important ancestral celebrations of the indigenous communities of the Northern Sierra of Ecuador. This millenarian tradition is maintained in Cayambe and Pedro Moncayo in the Pichincha Province; and Otavalo, Cotacachi, Antonio Ante and Ibarra in the Imbabura province.

Every June 22nd, during the summer solstice, the indigenous communities go to sacred springs, rivers and waterfalls to carry out a communitarian ritual. From the Andean Cosmo vision, this ritual allows for the spiritual purification of the human being, the recuperation of energy and revitalization of the relationship with Mother Nature.

The Inti Raymi is the time when the earth offers all of its fruits after the Andean agricultural cycle ends one of its phases. Then, the communities prepare various foods based in maize such as "mote", "colada" and "chicha", the later being a special drink made of the best varieties of this grain. The food and drinks are very important because soon arrive the dancers following the rhythm of lively music, lead by the Aya Uma. This is a mythological character wearing a mask with two faces and twelve horns. The two faces represent night and day, and the horns represent the twelve months of the year. The Aya Uma is considered the spirit of the mountain, which comes down to the communities to accompany the town people during the celebration dedicated to the sun, the moon and nature. Thus, whoever wants to be the Aya Uma must be an honest, hardworking, responsible and respected person among the community. The dancers go around in circles, representing the two solstices and two equinoxes that take place during the year. The dancers stamp their feet while they circle around, as a way to invite Mother Earth to participate in the party, so that it recuperates its vital energies and is ready to begin the new agricultural cycle where the maize and other crops will be cultivated again.

This party full of color, music and traditions goes on for various days and in some communities even for weeks. The Inti Raymi is a time of reunion with the family, the community and what is more important, Mother Earth. Moreover, the Inti Raymi is a complex celebration that involves myth, legend, traditional knowledge and syncretism. These celebrations open various options to enjoy them, be it through observation or direct participation. The Inti Raymi is open to all: men and women, all ages, indigenous and non-indigenous, Ecuadorians and foreigners, It is open for all who value and love nature and respect cultural diversity.

If you want to find out more about the traditions of the indigenous communities, the Andean cultural landscapes, and learn about their millenarian wisdom, Otavalo Kichwa Tours offers the best options, accompanied by professional indigenous guides who speak English. All you need is an adventurous spirit and the will to learn and explore new realities. You need to leave the western Cosmo vision for a while and look through the eyes of these communities, in order to understand their millenarian traditions that are now available to all.

Text and photos by: César Cotacachi

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