The feast of the Virgen del Carmen in the Cusco town of Paucartambo, is a religious festivities that causes greater fervor among its believers who come from all over Peru and the world.
The Virgen del Carmen or Mamacha Carmen, affectionately called in Paucartambo, is celebrated in many cities in Peru, Latin America and Spain. Without a doubt, the celebration in this picturesque province of Cusco is an incomparable experience.
Mamacha del Carmen
Summary
Let’s start the celebration!
The feast of the Virgen del Carmen begins on July 15 and ends on July 19. The participants celebrate the beginning with the explosion of a rocket, the same one that is answered by the ringing of the bells and by the interpretation of musical bands. Minutes later, the procession begins in which the dancers will take center stage, each with their musical group and the «Cera Apaycuy» or «Transfer of Waxes» in which flowers are brought to offer them as a gift to the Virgen del Carmen and decorate with them the altar and bench of the image.
The night is opportune to start the «qonoy» or bonfire, where musicians and dancers from the Q’olqas, Chunchus and Maqtas troupes begin their games by jumping over the bonfires, playing and dancing with the people. In the center of the Plaza, a fireworks castle is built and it is where both ceremonies are mixed to form an unforgettable act.
At ten o’clock at night, closing it, the Mayordomo together with his band of musicians and comparsas serenade the Virgen del Carmen, who is followed by a group of dancers who present their choreographies in the atrium of the church. , but without disguises, showing themselves as they are.
Chunchuchas Comparsa
The central day of the festival of the Virgen del Carmen
The central day of the Feast of the Virgen del Carmen begins with a dawn mass, which is celebrated at daybreak, and is followed by the long-awaited fiesta mass where beautiful songs from the comparsas stand out: the Qollas and the black Qhapac. After this ceremony, the comparsas dance in the streets and squares, then the whole town gathers in it, where from the balcony of the municipal library, they drop fruits and small local craft objects. The month of July is the time after the harvest and before the first planting, so in a syncretistic way today the Virgen del Carmen is celebrated.
How did the feast of the Virgen del Carmen start?
La Mamacha del Carmen, is the mother of all the Paucartambinos, who celebrate with great fervor this festivity organized by the entire town, where they put aside their daily chores and dress in beautiful brightly colored costumes and masks that cover their faces to dance. to the rhythm of the dance of their ancestors.
The feast of the Virgen del Carmen de Paucartambo was declared Intangible Cultural Heritage by the National Institute of Culture, on April 11, 2006. The sacred image of the also known «Patroness of the mestizos» is located in the district of Paucartambo. To get to the town, you must travel 2 hours by bus from the city of Cusco.
Paucartambo is considered the folkloric capital of this region, due to its magnificent history and miscegenation. Its innumerable dances, recognized at a national level, accompany the tour of the Virgen del Carmen. Among them are the Saqra, Chuncho, Contradanza, Tarpuy, Qollacha, Qapac black, Bakers, Auqa Chileno, Los huaca huaca, among others. In addition, its dancers dance for three days in a row as a tribute to the Virgin, seeking to receive blessings and protection.
It is believed that the origins of the feast of the Virgen del Carmen date back to the 17th century, when the inhabitants of the highlands of Puno came to the province of Paucartambo with their herds of llamas to barter with the inhabitants. It is on one of their many trips that migrants and natives of this district observed the face of a virgin in one of the clay pots. Since that apparition, the Paucartambinos settlers sculpted an image and built a temple to venerate it.
Qhapaq negro
Curious fact
La mamacha del Carmen, was crowned on the esplanade of Sacsayhuaman by Pope John Paul II, before thousands of cusqueños and faithful catholics. The supreme pontiff put the beautiful crown on her; on February 3, 1985. Due to this event in later years the feast of the Virgen del Carmen took even more prominence.
How to get?
Paucartambo is located 109 km away from the city of Cusco, it is a journey of approximately 2 hours and has a cost of 20 soles.
At the Cusco airport you can take a taxi to the «control» whereabouts, in the district of San Jeronimo, which is where the cars leave for Paucartambo.
Once in Paucartambo, get ready to enjoy the feast of the Virgen del Carmen to the fullest
In addition to visiting Machu Picchu or hiking the Inca trail, you can also enjoy one of the most important religious festivities in Peru.
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