Qoyllur Rit'i - Pilgrims

Pilgrims

The Qoyllur Rit'i festival gathers more than 10,000 pilgrims annually, most of them from rural communities in nearby regions. Peasant attendees are grouped in two moieties: Paucartambo, which includes communities located to the northwest of the shrine in the provinces of Cusco, Calca, Paucartambo and Urubamba; and Quispicanchis, which encompasses those situated to the southeast in the provinces of Acomayo, Canas, Canchis and Quispicanchi. This geographic division also reflects social and economic distinctions as Paucartambo is an agricultural region inhabited by Quechuas whereas Quispicanchis is populated by Aymaras dedicated to animal husbandry. Peasant communities from both moieties undertake an annual pilgrimage to the Qoyllur Rit'i festival, each carrying a small image of Christ to the sanctuary. These delegations include a large troupe of dancers and musicians dressed in four main styles.

Ch'unchu

Wearing feathered headdresses and a wood staff, ch'unchus represent the indigenous inhabitants of the Amazon Rainforest, to the north of the sanctuary. There are several types of ch'unchu dancers, the most common is wayri ch'unchu, which comprises up to 70% of all Qoyllur Rit'i dancers.

Qolla

Dressed with a knitted mask, a hat, a woven sling and a llama skin, qollas represent the aymara inhabitants of the Altiplano, to the south of the sanctuary. Qolla is considered a mestizo dance style whereas ch'unchu is regarded as indigenous.

Ukuku

Clad in a dark coat and a woolen mask, ukukus represent the role of tricksters; they speak in high-pitched voices, play pranks and keep order among pilgrims. In Quechua mythology, ukukus are the offspring of a woman and a bear, feared by everyone because of their supernatural strength. In these stories, the ukuku redeems itself by defeating a condenado, a cursed soul, and becoming an exemplary farmer.

Machula

Wearing a mask, a humpback, a long coat and a walking stick, machulas represent the ñaupa machus, the mythical first inhabitants of the Andes. In a similar way to ukukus, they perform an ambivalent role in the festival, being comical as well as constabulary figures.

Qoyllur Rit'i also attracts visitors from outside the Paucartambo and Quispicanchis moieties. Since the 1970s, an increasing number of middle class Peruvians undertake the pilgrimage, some of them at a different date than more traditional pilgrims. There has also been a rapid growth in the number of North American and European tourists, drawn by the indigenous character of the festival.