The small community of Paucartambo is located more than 100 kilometers away and three hours' drive from Cusco. Since Inca times, this town has been popular among merchants and buyers in the rainforest and the highland region.
In the present day, every July 16th, this village is crowded with visitors and tourists, its streets are crowded with vibrant colors, joyful music, and dances. In this article, we’ll discuss the patron saint of Paucartambo, “El Festival de la Virgen del Carmen".
(Virgin of Carmen Festival) The image of the Virgin was crowned by Pope John Paul II in the Saqsaywaman Fortress.
This festival honors the village’s saint, Virgen del Carmen, or as locals call it, “Mamacha Carmen”. The main event is on July 16, when the party takes over the village. However, the party officially starts on July 15 to July 19.
Besides all the joy and happiness that this party causes, there are also moving, introspective moments with a strong undertone of Christian devotion. We recommend trying all drinks, local cuisine, and dances.
According to legend, the Virgin's body was injured by the chunchos, or those living in the forest, during a fight with the local farmers. The Amaru Mayo River, now known, is where the body was discovered.
There is another legend that the collas, or people who live in the Collao region, carried a plaster head they discovered inside a clay pot with them when they traveled to the town.
The Virgin's head was recognized by the locals, who promptly transformed her into a wooden body. That's how she decided to live in this village.
• Qapaq Qoyas: These figures stand in for highland traders visiting Paucartambo for trade. Some of them are pranking people in the middle of the crowd.
• Qapaq Negros: These characters portray slaves working in the mines, all of them are dancers.
• Wayna Saqra: The "young devils" are mischievous and evil spirits who try to distract pilgrims from their need to pray.
• Qapaq Chunchos: These characters are the guards of the virgin, fighting against the Wayna Saqra.
• Spanish Conquerors: Satirical artwork depicting the Spanish army uses the color red to represent the invaders' drunkenness.
• Chunchacha: Women dancing that honor the Peruvian rainforest.
The feast starts with the “entrada” (entry), where all dancers and singers arrive in the main square to honor the image. By night, you’ll see fireworks, dancers in disguise, people with masks, etc. On July 16, or the “central day", it starts with a morning mass. The loyal devotees tell their histories to each other, and later the parade starts, carrying the virgin around the town.
The following day, people honor the deceased dancers and “carguyoq” or people in charge of the logistics of the party that year. One more time, a parade starts, while people wait for the “blessing” of the statue on the Charles III Bridge. The last day, July 18th finishes when people say goodbye to the virgin, people of all ages kiss the statue from its feet, and dancers and musicians perform one more time.
If you want to feel this celebration, contact Viagens Machu Picchu and start living the color and joy that Peru offers.
