Inti Raymi

Inti Raymi, which means "Festival of the Sun" in the Quechua language, is a spectacular and ancient Incan religious ceremony. It is celebrated in Cusco, Peru, every year on June 24th, coinciding with the winter solstice in the Southern Hemisphere. The festival honors the god Inti, the most revered deity in the Inca Empire, who was believed to be the ancestor of the Incas and the source of all life.

Originally a nine-day celebration with elaborate processions, animal sacrifices, and dances, Inti Raymi was banned by the Spanish conquistadors in the 16th century. However, it was revived in the 20th century as a grand theatrical reenactment based on historical chronicles, and it has since become the second-largest festival in South America.