Feast Of Pachamama

TO THE ANDEAN PEOPLE, "PACHAMAMA" OR "MOTHER EARTH" IS ALL-IMPORTANT, THE MOTHER OF ALL THINGS. SHE IS A UNIVERSAL AND SPECIFIC CONCEPT IN THAT IT REFERS TO THE BEING WHO PERSONIFIES THE SOURCE OF LIFE AND NURTURES THE LIVING. SHE SYMBOLIZES THE FEMININE ELEMENT OF DIVINITY FOR THE "ANDEANS. " THE "PACHAMAMA" REFERS SPECIFICALLY TO THE LAND THAT OFFERS US ITS FRUITS, THE LAND THAT NURTURES US AS A MOTHER DOES HER CHILDREN, AND IN RETURN SHE IS LOVED AND RESPECTED LIKE A MOTHER. SHE HAS ALWAYS BEEN REVERED AS THE SOURCE OF NOURISHMENT, THE PROTECTRESS OF THE CROPS

AROUND THE TIME OF THE CARNIVAL, CLOSE TO THE HARVEST SEASON, "PACHAMAMA "IS READY TO GIVE UP ALL OF HER FRUITS. HER ANNUAL FEAST IS CELEBRATED ON AUGUST 15TH WITH PROCESSIONS OF DANCERS THROUGH THE STREETS. CEREMONIAL RITES FOR "PACHAMAMA" ARE STILL PERFORMED REGULARLY THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, ESPECIALLY AT THE HIGH POINTS IN THE AGRICULTURAL CYCLE. FOLK CONCERTS ARE HELD ON THIS DAY ALONG WITH ANCIENT RITUALS AND MASS FEASTS. YOUNG WOMEN WEARING RED DRESSES THAT DRAG ALONG THE GROUND RITUALLY IMPERSONATED "PACHAMAMA. ">

THE "CHALLA", OR RITUAL OFFERING ALCOHOL TO "PACHAMAMA", IS PERFORMED PERIODICALLY TO EXPRESS GRATITUDE FOR, OR TO SOLICIT, THE "PACHAMAMA'S" BENEVOLENCE. IT IS A SIMPLE RITUAL THAT GOES LIKE THIS:

"PRIOR TO EATING, A PRAYER IS OFFERED IN GRATITUDE FOR THE FOOD. AFTER THE PRAYER, EVERYONE BEGINS EATING, AND A PERSON, USUALLY A MALE, WILL BEGIN SERVING THE BEVERAGES TO EACH PERSON. EACH INDIVIDUAL THEN TAKES THEIR CUP AND BEFORE DRINKING, POURS A BIT ON THE GROUND. THIS ACT OF POURING THE BEVERAGE IS CALLED CHALLA AND IS SEEN AS AN OFFERING OF THE BEVERAGE TO PACHAMAMA. "

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