Hope you can join us on our Inti Raymi Ingapirca Celebration
Saturday, June 18 and Sunday, June 19th (both days, full day)
We will be able to take part in the opening ceremony on Saturday, June 18th. There will be different folkloric Danzas, Music, Pamapamesa lunch (optional).
Sunday the Danza Celebration will continue. Lunch will be optional.
Optional: 1 night – 2 days or 2 night — 3 day’s overnight stay
at Posada Ingapirca.
The Inti Raymi is in itself the symbol of gratitude our Andean culture’s offer our Paccha Mama (Mother Earth), a Celebration for the kindness of having allowed a good production and harvest of traditional products.
https://youtu.be/hGI9XRrW0Qc
Gratitude is celebrated with the presence of music and dance, concentrating the native ethnic groups of the Andes…
This ancestral experience allows our ethnic roots to preserve all their splendor and color through the song and joy of the winds that are born from the green fields and the golden wheat fields of our Andes.
One of the most important characters of the indigenous culture, represented with its typical colorful mask is the Aya huma.
Its origin dates back to the days of our ancestors. One night, a widowed man, sad and lonely, after having attended with food and chicha to the dancers who had come to visit him at home, he went to sleep.
Among the regalia worn during the celebration is the Aya Huma mask and suit, sometimes known as Diablo Umo.
The Aya Huma carries a whip to drive away evil spirits during the ceremony. His mask is double-sided so that he cannot be surprised by evil spirits from behind.
The rather symmetrical ears and noses represent the four cardinal points.
Although traditionally representing a protector spirit, Catholic zealots among the colonizers branded the masquerader satanic, whence comes the name Diablo Umo (Devil Head).
https://youtu.be/hoVanyDO1_Y
It was not long when suddenly he heard the clamor of the dance near his house. The traverse flutes sounded with warlike melodies, the energetic stomping and the angry voices of animation complimented the rhythm of the dance. He thought that another group of dancers had arrived. He got up ready to offer food and chicha but he was surprised because the dancers had not entered the corridor of the house as usual, but were dancing only in the backyard.
He stopped before going out because something different was happening. The stomping of the dancers made the ground tremble, the music of the flutes seemed to come from everywhere and the commanding voices of the dance were heard like thunder.
Before going out into the backyard, he looked out through an opened door and saw that those who danced that way, were beings with human form that had two faces on the same head (one forward and one behind), and had big ears and noses. His hair was thick and disorganized. Some had canes in their hands, others carried (whips) ushumpis and some played the flute with great skill.
The apparition lasted a few moments and with the same rapidity with which they had arrived, they disappeared into the cornfield and at the moment everything was as silent as before. Because of the characteristics of these exceptional dancers, the man understood that those who had come to his house were the “Aya” he had heard from his elders. He was so impressed with the strange appearance that he decided to make a similar outfit.
Trying to remember every detail, he made a two-faced mask and started dancing like the Aya. They say that this man never ran out during the Inti Raymi dances that lasted days and nights in a row. He was the one who guided and encouraged others at all times. He never suffered an accident or fall, was never defeated in any fight; he was the first to enter the fight and the last to leave it. When he danced, his feet did not touch the ground and he often slept between the thorns without suffering any damage. He used to bathe and sleep next to the waterfalls, lakes, springs and other ceremonial sites during these holidays.
The Symbolism of Aya Huma
The Mask
The two faces are symbolic of the past and the future, good and bad, day and night and opposites in life. By counting the “hair” of the masks made from tubular strips of material, it is possible to determine whether it is feminine or masculine; twelve hairs for a feminine mask and ten hairs for a masculine mask. The rainbow colors represent the months of the year as well as wisdom.
Two Ears and Two Noses
They represent the four cardinal points.
The Tongues
This means that oral communication is used.
A Whip
This shows Aya Huma’s eagerness to protect the people and drive away the evil spirits.
Socially and culturally Aya Huma is a mystical and popular character that doesn’t get tired, remains resolute and demonstrates courage in an impish way; leading and enlivening the main ceremonies, festivals, rituals and dances of our people.
During the festival of Inti Raymi (festival of the sun) Aya Huma plays a vital part in the ceremonies of being grateful the sun god (Inti Raymi) for the maize harvest. The Inti Raymi festival commences on June with a ritual bath in waterfalls, rivers and springs at midnight, with the aim of driving out the negative energies and receiving new energy for the coming year.
Reservations: Saturday and Sunday, June 18th and June 19th… will include private transportation services, guide, opening ceremonies will be on Saturday. Both days there will be Danza, música …
Also for those who would like we can have a Pamapamesa (lunch).
Plus there is a optional overnight stay for those interested 2n/3d…
Info:ecuadortripsfromcuenca@gmail.com
WhatsApp# 099 524 6166
San Miquel de Putushi
Martin Avila
099 259 0745
