Tarata
Ancestral Rites: The Payment to Pachamama and Water
Payment to the Earth (Pachamama) and to the Water: The Ritual of Reciprocity
The Andean religion, passed down from generation to generation in Tarata, is based on a deep connection to and gratitude for nature, primarily the Pachamama (Mother Earth) and to water (sources of life and fertility). This tradition is a continuous act of reciprocity known as Ayni.
The Ritual of Payment to the Earth: Pachamama
The Pachamama (Mother Earth) is the most important deity of Kay Pacha (the world we inhabit). The payment rituals performed in Tarata and its communities demonstrate a deep gratitude and a plea for prosperity..
Purpose: The Andean man tries to return or give back towards the earth all that he has received from it, showing his gratitude and asking that the coming harvests be abundant and prosperous.
Key Date: The main ritual is traditionally performed in the month of August, This period marks the beginning of preparing the land (making furrows) to receive the seeds and, therefore, the new harvests..
The Ceremony: The ritual of Payment to the Earth It is a major ceremony of thanksgiving. A preparation is underway. ritual table on a multicolored fabric (awayu), laden with offerings such as grains, coca leaves, sweets and wool, which is finally buried or burned as an act of total surrender.
The Importance of Paying for Water
Although the Pachamama ritual is the best known, the water It is equally vital in the Andean worldview, being one of Tarata's main natural resources..
Sacred Water Sources: The rivers and the lagoons (like Vilacota or Ticaco) are considered sacred, as they support agriculture on the terraces. The one herself Susapaya Lagoon It is a high Andean body of water.
Water Rites: The communities perform specific rituals for water, as it is the key to fertility and life. Water is considered a living thing, And the rituals are a way of asking permission and giving thanks for the irrigation of the wetlands and high Andean fields..
Ritual Vestiges: Sacred sites such as Qala Qala Caves (near the Inca Trail) were used for pre-Hispanic rituals related to the rain. Similarly, the apachetas Along the Qhapaq Ñan are offering points that include the t'inka (ritual pouring of chicha or liquor) asking permission of the hill for the flow of water and protection.
