Inti Raymi of Campoy in Lima 2019

The Huaca Fortaleza de Campoy in Lima’s district San Juan de Lurigancho is once again the venue for the 12th Inti Raymi celebration in the Peruvian capital.

Contrary to the famous Inti Raymi festival in Cusco which was the largest and most important religious ceremony of the Inca Empire in honor of the two most venerated deities of the Inca civilization - the sun god Inti and Pachamama (Mother Earth) – and today is the largest, most impressive and colorful celebration in Cusco attracting thousands of national and international visitors each year, the Inti Raymi of Campoy is a smaller affair which celebrates the arrival of the Inca Túpac Yupanqui in the Rimac valley around the year 1470 and the integration of the Guanchos culture into the Inca Empire.

Additionally, the Inti Raymi of Campoy was as the festivities in Cusco celebrated around the winter solstice in the southern hemisphere when days are short and the sun far away. With sacrifices, sacred rituals, music and dances Pachamama and the sun god Inti were honored and pampered hoping they would return to the Inca lands and spread their life-giving energy and warmth over the fields.

12 years ago this during Inca times important celebration was revived and today dancers and actors reenact the festivities of their ancestors at the Huaca Campoy.