Inti Raymi returns as an act of resistance

In the Northern Hemisphere, it falls near the Summer Solstice — June 21st. The longest day of the year. The time when the sun reaches its apex in the sky. And begins to walk slowly back toward Fall and Winter.

But in the countries of the Andes Mountains of South America, and in particular, Ecuador and Peru, this date is even more important. It is the Andean New Year. Inti Raymi. The festival of the sun.

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The celebration stretches back to the 1400s. It was the largest and most important festival of the Incan Empire. It would last for more than two weeks.

But it was banned by the Spanish, amid their blood-thirsty reign, that destroyed and banished all things Incan and Indigenous.

And it remained like that for more than 400 years. 

Until… the middle of the 20th century. 

Today… Inti Raymi is back. 

A revival of the ancestral Indigenous history that was silenced and stolen. 

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And it’s not just a celebration 

It is an act of resistance….

Grasping. And holding on to the rich cultural past of the region… and rooting the connection to the present. A prayer for Madre Tierra, Pachamama, Mother Earth and to Inti, the sun. 

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Today, communities, cities, towns and even universities hold Inti Raymi celebrations. 

Like this one, packed with university students in Quito, Ecuador. 

They light fires and incense 

They say prayers to Pachamama.

And they sing and dance…

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Singing and dancing… slowly rotating in a circle in one direction and then the other…

A rotation that symbolizes the spiraling of the sun. 

The stars around the heavens. 

The seasons. 

The time for planting. The time for harvest. 

And to “despertar la tierra”… to wake up the Earth.

See… Inti Raymi is also a harvest festival. 

Dancing in thanks to Inti and Pachamama 

For the bounty of crops they have collected

And the beginning of a new agricultural season. 

Inti Raymi celebrations are often held over many days.

In some places, like Cusco, Peru. They reenact the ancient Incan ceremonies in the archeological site Sacsayhuaman.

In Quito, Ecuador, the main Inti Raymi celebrations are held in what they say used to be the Coricancha of the city… The city’s most sacred location. Today, the plaza sits in front of the centuries old San Francisco Catholic Church. A church…  built over the ruins of the Palace of the Incan ruler Huayna Cápac

The name of the celebration this year, in Quito…. Is Inti Raymi – Territories of Memory and Resistance.

Inti Raymi

Standing up, despite the injustices of the past…  

Singing and dancing to give thanks to the Sun and Mother Earth

Singing and dancing to celebrate

Reviving the traditions

And refusing to let go. 

Hi folks, thanks for listening. I’m your host Michael Fox. I attended Inti Raymi celebrations in recent days here in Ecuador. Much of the music and sound in this episode are from those festivities. 

You can check out exclusive pictures from the celebrations on my Patreon account. I’ll add a link in the show notes.

I am proud to announce that this is our 50th episode of Stories of Resistance. I hope you have been enjoying the series. In honor of the landmark, and also taking advantage of the theme of this episode, which is all about celebration and giving thanks… I would like to give a huge shout out to everyone who has worked hard to make this podcast happen and to all of those who have supported this podcast series. 

In particular, I’d like to thank Michael and Nadia Murphy, Sam Dodge, Ben Dangl, Kevin Zolitor, Hallo Pip!, Marc Becker, Jennifer from ASAP Manufacturing, Todd Haydel, Phil and Sue Cortese, Supapan Kantithammakorn, Michael and Maryann Fox, Josh Weinberg, Dot Goodman, Gary Tempus Jr, Tom Fox, Eric Kinzler, and Greg Wilpert.

I would also like to especially thank Grahame Russell, Cara Orschelin and Judy Hughes for your tremendous support.

You are amazing.

And of course, a huge shout out to co-producers Global Exchange and The Real News.

And everyone working hard each day to make this happen.

Thank you so much. 

You are all incredible.

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If you have been enjoying this podcast series and would also like to support, you can make a donation to The Real News or head over and become a paid subscriber on my Patreon. Every little bit counts. I’ll add links in the show notes. 

As always, this is Stories of Resistance, a podcast series co-produced by The Real News and Global Exchange. Independent investigative journalism, supported by Global Exchange’s Human Rights in Action program. Each week, I bring you stories of resistance and hope like this. Inspiration for dark times. If you like what you hear, please subscribe, like, share, comment or leave a review.

Thanks for listening. See you next time.