Inti Raymi (festival of the Sun) is a festival of gratitude to the Earth, water and Sun, for the great food harvest of the year, it is celebrated with dances, rituals in rivers and lakes, with food and drinks made from corn and wheat. Inti Raymi remains a rite for many indigenous communities settled in other parts of the ancient Inca territory, as in Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, Argentina, Colombia and Chile.
Following the successful event held last year, the Embassy of Ecuador in India once again celebrates Inti Raymi. Andean cultures celebrate Chakana Day (Andean cross) on May 3rd, and this cross has four ends and four intermediate points, which represent the eight ceremonies of the Andean culture, four coinciding with the solstices, two of which occur on June 21st and December 21st respectively. In Ecuador and many Latin American countries, the celebration of the winter solstice or Inti Raymi (Festival of the Sun) has a great cultural and historical meaning that begins with a ritual in honor of Pacha Mama (Mother Earth) in gratitude for the crops harvested, celebrated from June 21st to 28th of each year.
To commemorate this day, the Embassy of Ecuador, in collaboration with Instituto Cervantes New Delhi, will hold a stage performance of the ceremony. It will begin with the making of the Chakana, a drawing made on the ground, surrounded by the main products offered by the Earth. The "Yachac" (sage in the Quechua language), will heal the space followed by the wind ritual and a dance around the Chakana with traditional Andean instruments. Guitars and zampoñas will be played to renew the energy of the participants and with the guidance of the Yachac heal the ailing spirits.