Yacu Raymi

Here in Nazca, from the 3 untill the 15 of May, there is an important event: the “semana turistica de Nazca” (that is, the “touristic week of Nazca”). We've been lucky, because we've had the opportunity to participate in it. In particular, one of the most impressive event I've seen during this week was the “Yacu Raymi”, an important and ancient ritual to thank the Earth and the Water. It has been celebrated in the Orcona aqueduct on the 11 of this month. The ceremony started slowly, with the rhythmic and solemn movements of dancing women that were bringing gifts to the minister/shaman. All movements were slow and harmonic, the athmosphere was dense and I was having the impression to be an inca woman assisting at an important evenement celebrated for my own land. At one moment women started to dance faster formig circles. At this point, the athmosphere began to become more joyful and cheerful, I was feeling more and more involved in what I was seeing. It was a sort of premonition, because, in a few seconds, the "inca-women" started to take tourists by the hand to make them dance. I felt totally involved in the dance and I was imagining to be really part of them. It was incredible how people of different nationalities, languages, histories and cultures, in that moment were united by the rhythm of the melodious inca music. Every difference of culture and age were fallen, and everyone was feeling to be part of something bigger than himself, but, at the same time, formed by each of us, in communion with the others. I think that we were sharing an incredible and strong sensation of joy and harmony.