One of the things that I miss the most while living here in the US; is the number of festivals Peruvians enjoy during the year, and I am not talking about artist markets, I am talking about festivals that go back hundreds of years as traditions.
The Qoyllur Rit’i (pronounced “kouyuriti” in English means “Snow Star”) is a festival celebrated at the end of May that unites both the Andean and Catholic traditions of the country. It is basically a long pilgrimage that starts at the bottom of Mount Sinaqara (believed in the Andean tradition to be a god –Apu Ausangate) all the way up 15,500 feet! Thousands of people walk, dance and sing their way up the mountain while enjoying traditional food from vendors or other pilgrims.
The story of the tradition says that an image of God appeared on top of the mountain and if you do a pilgrimage for 5 years in a row, God will grant you a special wish or miracle. Believers then plan their whole year around this festivity and bring their best and colorful clothes, food from their towns (because of the altitude is very difficult to cook up there) and dance and pray for God to give them strength to reach the summit.
After they reach the summit, some pilgrims bring pieces of glacier to their communities (they carry them on the back!) because they are believed to have medicinal properties.
If you are interested, remember that you would be climbing a mountain so there is no hotel, you would have to carry a tent to sleep inside, and temperatures often reach 0 Fahrenheit degrees.
Gigi Pedraza
Inca Kids, Fair Trade Artisan Toys and Accessories by Peruvian artisans.
www.incakids.org
1 comments:
Gigi --
You're right. This is an amazing event, one that showcases the intensity and vibrancy of the Andean people's faith. My husband and I did the pilgrimage in 2006 when we lived in the United States; now we live in Lima and will be attending this year's event once again. (Please check out my entry on getting ready for Qoyllur Rit'i at my blog, An American in Lima -- URL below.)
You're also right to warn people that they'll be roughing it if they go to QR. There are tens of thousands of people, and only a few bathrooms. No running water.
Bring plenty of fresh wipes! :)
Post a Comment