Lord of Qoylluriti Festivity
The Lord of Qoylloriti
The Festivity of the Lord of Qoylluriti takes place in the department of Cusco, province of Quispicanchis, district of Ocongate. It takes place at the base of the mountain of Sinakara, the main ceremony is held at the foot of the snow-capped Ausangate, at 4,700 meters above sea level and temperatures below zero degrees Celsius.
Faith, tradition and culture as a product of Christian-Andean religious syncretism
Different groups (chauchos, qollas, pabluchas or ukukus) from the different nations of ancient Cusco such as Paucartambo, Quispicanchis and Canchis compete to demonstrate which is the strongest and most powerful nation in the region.
These groups symbolize various Andean mythical characters such as: The ukukus (bears) are the watchers of the Lord as well as the Apus and apachetas (mounds of stones placed by the pilgrims, as atoned sins), and those who maintain discipline during the liturgical acts. A group of strong Queros, inhabitants of what is perhaps the purest Quechua community in Peru, disguised as “pabluchas”, set off to the summits of the snow-capped mountain (6,362 m.a.s.l.) in search of the Snow Star that is enclosed in its entrails. On their way back to their communities, these strong villagers carry large blocks of ice on their backs to symbolically irrigate their lands with the sacred water of Ausangate.
A Little History….
The Andean people in the department of Cusco, perform this rite whose external symbol is the image of Christ, but its underlying object is the integration of man with nature (La Pachamama or Sacred Mother Earth).
The ritual, associated with the fertility of the earth and with the worship of the Apus (Tutelary Hills or Tutelary Lords), is part of one of the largest festivals of indigenous nations in America. The main ceremony takes place at the foot of the snow-capped Ausangate, the ritual consists of a pilgrimage of shepherds, traders and tourists who gather at the sanctuary of Sinakara.
According to the story of the ancestors, Baby Jesus, disguised as a shepherd boy, appeared to a little boy Marianito Mayta, and the two became friends. When the parents found them, both dressed in rich attire, a fact that was immediately communicated to the parish priest of the place, Pedro de Landa, who went to meet the children but without success, since when arriving to the place of the facts the boy Marianito appeared dead and next to him a stone with the image of the Lord of Qoyllur Ri’ti that had been imprinted on the rock.
Learn more about the festivity of the Lord of Qoyllority.
The pilgrimage includes a procession of crosses that go up to the snowy mountain and then return, after which they make a 24-hour procession in which the Paucartambo nation and the Quispicanchi nation carry the images of the Sorrowful Virgin and the Lord of Tayancani to the town of Tayancani. The Council of Pilgrim Nations and the Brotherhood of the Lord of Qoyllurit’i organize the activities of the pilgrimage, establish its rules and codes of conduct, and provide the rich food of the highlands.
In charge of maintaining order are the pablitos or pabluchas, characters dressed in alpaca garments wearing animal masks woven with wool. The pilgrimage of the Lord of Qoyllority encompasses a great variety of cultural expressions and offers a meeting place for communities of the Andean Cordillera that are dedicated to different economic activities.
Date of Lord of Qoyllur Riti’s Festivity
The festivity of the Lord of Qoyllority, begins 58 days after the celebration of Easter Sunday, days before the famous Corpus Christi.
The pilgrimage to the Lord of Qoyllur Rit’i takes place between the months of May and June, the date is movable, for this year 2023 the festival begins on Tuesday May 30 to conclude on Thursday June 8, whose central date is Tuesday June 6, 2023.
The festival begins on the day of the Holy Trinity, when more than 10,000 pilgrims ascend to the edge of the perpetual snow. Minimum temperatures (-4 °C) are reached. The walk is accompanied by a procession, fireworks and the symbolic market of “las Alacitas” (miniature handicraft fair).
Useful information about Lord of Qoyllur Riti
What does “Qoyllur Riti” mean?
Señor de Qoyllority, comes from a Quechua word that translated into Spanish means “Lord of the Shining Snow”. The image venerated in the rock responds to an invocation of Christ and that by this way the pilgrimage responds to a Christian rite.
How to get there?
To get to the Sanctuary of the Lord of Qoyllur Riti, we recommend leaving Cusco at midnight and walking at dawn. This way, you will avoid the intense sun. Don’t worry about the darkness. Andean traditions are well thought out. On these dates, there is always a full moon.
What to bring to visit the Lord of Qoyllur Rit’i?
what to wear for the cold
It is important that you understand that the cold is extremely intense at the Sanctuary of the Lord of Qoyllur Rit’i . As it is in a hollow depression, the sun will warm it around 7:00 and leave at 15:00. After that, the low temperatures can drop to -5 or -23 degrees Celsius. Therefore, you should not forget to bring a warm coat and thermal pants, gloves and something to warm your head.
What to bring to eat
Bring lemon candies and coca leaves to give you energy and protect you from the bad effects of the altitude. At the bus stop, both in Mahuayani and at the Sanctuary, you can get all the food you need. Remember that this place is not touristy, so don’t expect clean restaurants and gourmet food. You will have to eat sitting on the floor but in the company of Peruvians who will surely give you a warm welcome. We recommend that you bring water purification tablets or drops and your own bottle. There are several water spigots that you can use. In this way, you can avoid the use of plastic.
Where to camp?
This can be the most complicated part. Since pilgrim groups have their historically assigned spots on the Sinakara esplanade and because of the thousands of people participating in the pilgrimage, it can be really difficult to find a good place to camp. We recommend that you go with an open and humble heart and ask the people in charge of a parade if it is possible to rent a place in your area to set up your tent. Take this opportunity to make new friends and discover the Andean culture from the inside.
How to return?
You will have to return to the town of Mahuayani after walking 2 to 4 hours from the Sanctuary. It is best to arrive between noon and early afternoon because it can be difficult to find cars to return to Cuzco. Ask people where the buses to Cuzco leave from. Sometimes, you will have to go by truck.
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