KOLLA RAYMI:

 

Spiritual significance:

(Or Kolla Raymi Killa) is the celebration of the moon, who is considered the first lady of the spirit of Inti, because she helps to establish the cosmic equilibrium. The indigenous people that time thank for the fertility of the earth, so that can initiate the preparation and seeding of the fields and Pachamama will be good willing to receive the seed so that the crops grow well. Kolla Raymi is celebrated on the 21st of September (summer equinox) in honour to all feminine components of nature and for this reason especially dedicated to the women. It honours their beauty, their values and their support and efforts to preserve Andean culture.

 

Procedure of the ritual:

The ritual to thank mother earth is named “We all walk together” (in kichwa: tukuylla tandanakushpa ripashunchik). It consists in a walk and dance in circle, that expresses the unity and equality of the people before Mother Nature on the one hand, and represents the circularity of time and space that is central to the indigenous cosmovision (HYPERLINK). During the ceremony a series of symbols are used:

 

Rocks and stones, that represent the presence of the mountains,

The diversity of colours to recognize the diverse dimensions of time and space known as three worlds (Uku Pacha, Kay Pacha, Hanan Pacha),

La fachalina that represents femininity of Pachamama and earth that represents Pachamama

herself,

Fruits, grains, seeds and the sacrifice of special animals as guineapig and chicken, to give back and feed mother earth with their blood, so that her lands become strong and fertile,

Water, that symbolizes the blood of mother earth,

Fire, that brings in the presence of the living energy of Pachamama spent from the sun Inti that is considered her masculine complement.

 

Sociocultural significance:

The reunion of Kolla Raymi unites the different communities of Otavalo in a rural area and changing every year the location of the ritual act. It is mostly closed to people who not belong to the communities themselves. That’s why in recent years the festivity of Yamor was revived and extended. It is actually recognized to be the main and official festivity of the city of Otavalo and organized by the municipal administration and takes place in central place of Otavalo. Following the organisers the main motivation of Yamor is to facilitate a real intercultural encounter, in which people from all different backgrounds come together to celebrate. Therefor Yamor is open to all its people and foreign visitors to join. The festival started 52 years ago combining the indigenous rooted tradition of Kolla Raymi with a catholic tradition that remembers Virgin Mary, who is considered the patron saint of the city by the non-indigenous population. In former times both festivities were celebrated together, but in recent years Yamor was separated from the Kolla Raymi and brought from the private into the public sphere, where it is celebrated two weeks earlier at the end of august, when the period of harvest ends and the recreation of the lands begins. Meanwhile there is no mayor ritual act during the Yamor, its principal tradition is the preparation of the chicha-yamor, an alcoholic drink based on the 7 sorts of corn that grows in this region. Fermented it is the main drink consumed during the three day long festivities, that include parades, dances, concerts with regional, national and international artists, sporting events like a swimming competition to cross the lake of San Pablo, the election of the beauty-queen of Otavalo, 4x4 car-races and fireworks. In 2011 the International Fair of Tourism, Handcrafts and Industry was included in the festivities of Yamor for the first time and now takes place every year during the celebrations, that provide the platform to present new products from Otavalo and share not only their work but also information about life in Otavalo with interested visitors.