In mid-July the streets of Paucartambo are filled with music, colors, faith and a great religious devotion, the Mamacha del Carmen Festival brings together Peruvian folklore and the largest number of parishioners, between July 15 to 18 of each year Thousands of people congregate with a single feeling to worship the Mamacha del Carmen, celebrating its central day on July 16. There are several versions on the origin of the festival in honor of the Virgen del Carmen, in this blog we tell you some:
It is said that there were groups of merchants from the highlands, called "Qollas", who exchanged products such as cañiwa, chuño and cheeses with others with sugar, cane liquor, chancaca and others from the coast. Tradition indicates that one day, when the products coming from the highlands were downloaded, one of the Qollas found the head of the image of the Virgen del Carmen among the vessels. This caused surprise and amazement among the settlers. The head of the image was given to a woman who offered lodging to travelers and it was she who ordered the body of the Virgen del Carmen to be made, which remains to this day. Since then the Qollas pay homage and honor to the patron saint.
Another version refers that in colonial times there were in Paucartambo Spanish estates and colonists who dedicated themselves to the extraction of minerals in the Qosñipata laundries. Noting that diseases such as malaria and others that easily attacked locals were spreading, the landowners saw the need to bring Afro-Peruvian slaves from the coast to carry out such work. These new inhabitants, who were devotees of the Virgen del Carmen, took the image to the haciendas and secretly worshiped it. They say that the patron saint of one of the haciendas discovered them and after becoming a devotee he ordered the construction of a chapel to worship him. This version is supported by the Qhapaq Negro dance, one of the most celebrated on the feast of the Virgin of Paucartambo.
The party begins with a fireworks show and the sound of bells. Then a troupe enters and the night becomes an accomplice to make a bonfire. Afterwards, a group of villagers stage purgatory through acrobatic jumps, races and different pranks. At 11:00 p.m. the band of musicians performs a serenade to the virgin until the next day.
It is the central day of this majestic festival. It starts at 5:00 a.m. with an Aurora mass, then at 10:00 a.m. the celebration mass is given where they interpret the songs of the Qollas and the black Qhapac (ancient cultures of Paucartambo). To end this sacred day in the streets you can listen to troupes, dances and songs.
Day of the great procession of the Virgen del Carmen and begins at 3:00 p.m. The wonderful and unique thing about this festivity is the unfolding of the dancers dressed in bright colors and masks, they go up to the ceilings and balconies making movements that follow the musical figure of the band. There are also the saqras who are in charge of waiting for the "Patroness of the mestizos". This day is considered the day of the blessing and the parade goes to the cemetery, to show their gratitude to the deceased dancers.
Date when the virgin is taken to the temple and the children expect to be blessed by the priest, performing the traditional "ocarikuy". At 4:00 pm. the celebration is concluded with the priest's blessing to the entire population.
It is the last day of joy. From 11:00 a.m. the image is placed on her altar and the change of clothing for the sacred sculpture begins, a very special ceremony for the residents. They say goodbye praying and accompanying until the last moment the Virgen del Carmen.
The Virgen del Carmen was crowned by Pope John Paul II during his pilgrimage to Peru in 1985. This event is celebrated today in the Andean world, as a very important event by the ceremony held in Sacsayhuamán, in the city of Cuzco. It is worth mentioning that the festivity of the Virgen del Carmen de Paucartambo was declared Intangible Cultural Heritage by the National Institute of Culture, on April 11, 2006.
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