The Winter Solstice is the most majestic pre-Hispanic ceremony to render homage to the Sun. Today, the Inti Raymi festival evokes the splendid Inca ritual of yore. The central event is acted out on the esplanade below the imposing fortress of Sacsayhuaman. There, step by step, thousands of actors enact a long ceremony giving thanks to the Sun god, Inti.
In the scene, the Inca ruler is borne on a royal litter from the Koricancha temple, to Huacaypata, where he commands the local authorities to govern fairly. Then all the participants set out for Sacsayhuaman, where the ceremony calls for the sacrifice of two llamas, one black and one white.
The llamas' entrails and fat are handed to a pair of high priests: the first, the Callpa Ricuy, examines the intestines to predict what sort of year lies ahead; while the second priest, the Wupariruj, makes his predictions based on the smoke that wafts up from the burning fat. Finally, at sunset, the Inca orders all to withdraw from the site, and the entire city breaks out into festivities for several days.
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