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Culture, Arts & Traditions in Peru
Peruvian Festivals & Rituals |
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Virgen
del Carmen - Mamacha Carmen
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Location:
Paucartambo (Cusco)
Date: June 15-16
Four hours from Cusco, in the town
of Paucartambo, thousands of devotees hold festivals in honor
of the Virgen del Carmen, known locally as Mamacha Carmen,
patron saint of the mestizo population. The gathering, that
raises the curtain on these days of celebrations is held in
the main square, where troupes of musicians play their instruments
while richly dressed choirs sing in Quechua.
The setting gives way to a series of ingenious choreographies
that portray events in Peruvian history. For five days, dance
companies in various costumes (Doctorcitos, Waca Waca, Sarjas)
take to the streets to accompany the Mamacha throughout the
entire procession through the main square, the church and
the city streets. On the main day, the virgin is borne aloft
in a procession to bless those present and scare away demons.
The dancers take to the housetops, performing daring gymnastics,
showing off their colorful Inca and colonial garb. At the
end of the procession, war is waged on the demons, from which
the faithful emerge in triumph. Finally, the gathering ends
up in the cemetery to render homage to the souls of the dead.
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