Graduate School Celebrates Inti Raymi or “Festival of the Sun”

• The festivity honored Andean culture and reinforced fraternity among students with a message of peace.

The student community of the Graduate School of CATIE commemorated Inti Raymi, also known as the “Festival of the Sun,” to honor one of the most important festivities of the Andean peoples.

The celebration took place on Friday, June 21, and was organized by Lesly del Rosario Urbina Ramos, Cultural and Relations Officer of the Student Council 2024-2025, along with the students of the 2024-2025 class.

The welcome speech was given by the Vice President of the Student Council, Maríaclara López, who highlighted the importance of Inti Raymi as a day of gratitude and spiritual renewal. She emphasized the significance of Inti Raymi for the Andean countries, underlining its symbolism as a day of gratitude and requests for success in future harvests.

Next, there was a reflection on Inti Raymi and its elements, including the dance of Aya Uma. This character, whose name in Kichwa means "spirit head," is a guide and spiritual leader with a deep connection to the Andean worldview. His dance and his two-faced mask symbolize the duality and complementarity of opposites in nature.

Mariela Leandro, Dean of the Graduate School, along with the student community, presented offerings of fruits and vegetables to the chakana, as a sign of gratitude for the blessings of the year and to ask for prosperity in the new cycle.

Additionally, traditional drinks such as chicha de jora, quinoa, rice, barley, or chonta were offered, ceremonially presented in a kero. This drink, originating from Inca times, is a fermented corn beverage used in offerings to the god Inti and as payment to the earth to ensure good harvests.

Historical Relevance and Student Participation

Inti Raymi is an ancestral celebration that honors Pachamama (Mother Earth) and Inti (Sun). It was established by Inca Yupanqui and represents a time of destabilization and renewal of the world. Historically, this festivity brought together thousands of people in Cusco, who participated in communal rites and celebrations.

The student community of CATIE, both national and international, actively participated in the event with exchanges of comments and experiences, allowing them to immerse themselves in the ancestral Andean traditions.

Lauren Luján expressed that the event allowed her to connect with nature and be grateful for the virtues received, while Andrea Eugenia Cuellar Dubon highlighted the spiritual renewal that the celebration provided.

Dilia Jeanethe Alessandra Diaz Rodríguez mentioned that the festivity reinforced fraternity among the students and left a message of peace and harmony.

Mariela Vargas also indicated that she had not participated in an activity like this before. “Knowing and participating in activities like this enriches our experience at CATIE. I am really grateful to my classmates and those who made it possible.”

The celebration of Inti Raymi at CATIE not only paid homage to an ancestral tradition but also strengthened the bonds of friendship and intercultural dialogue among the students.