Yawar Festival

Traditionally, the festival included the symbolic or ritual capture of the condor, a difficult process that required time. The condor is a very cautious bird and only descends toward its prey when it is certain there is no danger. Then, the community members come out of their hiding places and, waving their ponchos like nets, begin chasing the bird, which cannot take flight in such a narrow space. A strong and fierce bull is also captured, although this process is relatively easier.
The condor is ceremoniously taken to the village because it has historically been considered a sacred animal. There, its wings are decorated, it is given aguardiente to drink, and it is fed well in preparation for what comes next. During the ceremony, the condor is placed on the bull’s back and tied there with rings, while both animals try to free themselves during the ritual. The bull attempts to escape its torment and becomes even more furious. At that moment, the cape bearers enter to face both the bull and the condor. The release of the condor is a moving moment: it walks to the edge of the mountain, opens its enormous wings, and launches itself into the air.
If, during the ceremony, the condor is badly injured or dies, it is interpreted as a sign that something bad will happen to the community.

History of This Celebration

The Yawar Fiesta, which in Spanish means “The Festival of Blood,” is an ancient cultural tradition celebrated in different high Andean areas of southern Peru, especially in Apurímac. However, over the course of this century, it has undergone a process of decline and has disappeared from many towns and communities.

The most widely known story about the origin of this festival explains that, due to the conflict between Andean community members and the power of the former landowners, the people created a symbolic representation in which the landowner is represented by the bull and the community members by the condor.

Date:

The Yawar Fiesta is celebrated around Peru’s Independence Day festivities, especially on July 28 and 29 each year.

Location

This festival is celebrated in the town of Coyllurqui, province of Cotabambas, Apurímac region.

Other Traditional Andean Festivities

To provide a more complete description of Andean traditions, we present some of the best-known festivities. Several of them have been syncretized with Catholic customs and preserve ritual, agricultural, and community elements. Discover each one:

• Pilgrimage to Qoyllur Rit’i: It is one of the most important pilgrimages in the Andes. Communities known as “nations” travel from different towns in southern Peru to the sanctuary of the Lord of Qoyllur Rit’i, located in the Sinakara area, in Ocongate, Cusco. The route requires physical effort, as it takes place at more than 4,600 meters above sea level and under very low temperatures.
• Inti Raymi: The Festival of the Sun is celebrated on June 24 in Cusco and pays tribute to the Sun, one of the main divinities of the Inca world. Today, it is performed in settings such as Qorikancha, the Plaza de Armas, and Sacsayhuamán. The ceremony brings together music, dances, and a reenactment that recalls the importance of the Sun in the ancient Tawantinsuyo.
• Carnival: Carnival is a popular festivity linked to the calendar before Lent. In the Peruvian Andes, it is also associated with the agricultural cycle, the fertility of the land, music, dance, water games, and community life. Each region celebrates it in a different way; among the most recognized carnivals are those of Cajamarca, Ayacucho, Juliaca, and Cusco.
• Takanakuy: It is a ritual and festive practice mainly associated with Chumbivilcas, in Cusco. It takes place around December 25 and combines music, dance, traditional characters, and agreed confrontations that seek to resolve social tensions within the community. Due to its physical nature, it should be understood within its cultural context and not as a conventional tourist activity.
• Chiaraje: The traditional Chiaraje battle takes place every January 20 in the highlands of the province of Canas, in Cusco. According to tradition, it pays tribute to Pachamama and the apus to ask for fertility, abundance, and good harvests. Although it is part of an Andean ceremonial practice, it involves physical risk and should be approached with respect, without presenting it as a recreational experience for visitors.