Inti Raymi, la Fiesta del Sol, era una ceremonia religiosa durante el Imperio Inca en honor

al Inti, el dios del sol. En quechua, el Inti Raymi significa la resurreccin del sol o el
camino del sol. Los incas le rindieron culto a Inti, quien tambin era conocido como el
Dador de la Vida, en gratitud por el don de la vida.
El festival, que a menudo es llamado simplemente Raymi, tambin es una celebracin del
final del invierno. Inti Raymi se llevaba a cabo en el Cuzco, la antigua capital del Imperio
Inca, durante el solsticio de invierno (aproximadamente el 24 de junio). Marcaba los
tiempos, cuando los das empezaron a ser ms largas y la gente estaba a punto de
regresar a los campos para sembrar semillas y luego cortar las plantas. Durante Inti
Raymi, la gente solicitaba bendiciones de Pacha Mama, la Madre Tierra.
Antes de la fiesta misma la gente se ayunaba por tres das. Durante este perodo de
preparacin, no se permitan fuegos. Inti Raymi duraba nueve das, durante los cuales la
gente se celebraba, comiendo y bebiendo en honor a Inti. Danzas y procesiones se
celebraban y durante el primer da del festival se sacrificaban animales para asegurar una
buena cosecha.
Aunque que Inti Raymi tena un componente religioso, se trataba fundamentalmente de un
gran festival, con muchos das de bebidas, msica y baile.
El ltimo Inti Raymi que se llev a cabo en la presencia del Emperador Inca fue en 1535,
despus de que la Iglesia Catlica lo prohibi. Aunque las personas mantuvieron en
secreto la celebracin de Inti Raymi en los aos siguientes por medio de ceremonias
semejantes, se prohibi por completo en 1572.
No fue hasta casi doscientos aos despus, el 21 de junio del ao 1944, que una
representacin teatral de la ceremonia del Inti Raymi se celebr en Saxsayhuam, cerca de
Cuzco. Hoy en dia Inti Raymi se celebra aparte de Peru, en Ecuador, Bolivia y los lugares
donde an imigrado los descendientes de sangre inca ( Kichwa Runas de Ecuador ). Hasta
hoy en da la celebracin ms grande tiene lugar en Saxsayhuam, atrayendo a miles de
visitantes de todo el mundo.
Inti Raymi, the Sun Festival, was a religious ceremony during the Inca Empire in honor of
Inti, the sun god. In Quechua, Inti Raymi means "the resurrection of the sun" or "the way of
the sun". The Incas worshiped him Inti, who was also known as the Giver of Life, in
gratitude for the gift of life.
The festival, which is often called simply Raymi, is also a celebration of the end of winter.
Inti Raymi took place in Cuzco, the ancient capital of the Inca Empire, during the winter
solstice (around June 24). Time was running, when the days began to get longer and
people were about to return to the fields to sow seeds and then cut the plants. During Inti
Raymi, people sought blessings of Pacha Mama, Mother Earth.
Before the party itself people fasted for three days. During this period of preparation, no
fires were allowed. Inti Raymi lasted nine days, in which people celebrated eating and
drinking in honor of Inti. Dances and processions were held and during the first day of the
festival, animals were sacrificed to ensure a good harvest.
Although, Inti Raymi was a religious component, it was basically a large festival, with many
days of drinks, music and dancing.

The last Inti Raymi was carried out in the presence of Emperor Inca was in 1535, after the
Catholic Church forbade it. Although people kept secret celebration of Inti Raymi in the
following years through similar ceremonies were banned completely in 1572.
It was not until nearly two hundred years later, on 21 June 1944, a theatrical
representation of the Inti Raymi ceremony was held in Saxsayhuam, near Cuzco. Today
Inti Raymi is held apart from Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia and places where an Inca
descendants immigrated blood (Kichwa of Ecuador Runas). Until today the largest
celebration takes place in Saxsayhuam, attracting thousands of visitors from around the
world.