Inti Raymi
The Inti Raymi (Quechua for "Inti festival") is a traditional religious ceremony of the Inca Empire in honor of the god Inti (Quechua for "sun"), the most venerated deity in Inca religion. It was the celebration of the winter solstice – the shortest day of the year in terms of the time between sunrise and sunset – and the Inca New Year, when the hours of light would begin to lengthen again. In territories south of the equator, the Gregorian months of June and July are winter months. It is held on June 24.
| Inti Raymi | |
|---|---|
Modern Inti Raymi at Sacsayhuamán, Peru | |
| Official name | Inti Raymi |
| Also called | Festival of the Sun, Sun Festival |
| Observed by | Indigenous communities of Peru and Ecuador |
| Type | Cultural, Religious |
| Significance |
|
| Celebrations | Reenactment of Inca rituals, feasting, music, dance |
| Date | |
| Frequency | Annual |
| Related to | Inca religion, Winter solstice |
During the Inca Empire, the Inti Raymi was the most important of four ceremonies celebrated in Cusco, as related by Inca Garcilaso de la Vega. The celebration took place in the Haukaypata, the Main Square in the city.
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