My special gift for Inti Raymi by mama llama Ismene

Hello from Cusco. So many things have happened lately and I need to tell you all about it. So I'd better get started.

My baby was born on the 1st June, only a few weeks before the most important day for the Incas which is the 21st June, the Inti Raymi (the winter solstice). This is the day when the Incas celebrate and honour the Sun god, Inti, the most important god.

On the day before Inti Raymi, Pachacuti, one of the most famous Inca emperors, was to choose one hundred young llamas for the festivities of Inti Raymi at Saqsaywaman, the biggest temple in Cosco. He went around and eyed us all carefully, until finally,  gesturing to his helper, to take my baby away to be sacrificed! At that moment, I felt sad, excited and proud. Sad because it had only been a few days since my baby was born.  Excited because I had never been to an Inti Raymi ceremony. And proud because MY baby was chosen to be the special one.  

You see....for the Incas, we llamas are very special and the most important animal only after humans as sacrifices to the Gods. My baby was white like a cloud and so, so beautiful, and I know they have chosen him, because only white llamas are sacrificed to Inti.

After he was chosen, he was taken away immediately to prepare him for the big day. When he came out of the hut, he had string necklaces around his neck and earrings of red, yellow, green and purple on his ears. His face was decorated with red lines. He looked so beautiful!  I know the Incas will probably put my baby with decorated guinea pigs, orange feathers of tropical birds and black lima beans in the same place.      

He will then be brought to Saqsaywaman, for the big celebration and although I feel sad, I know in my heart that I will meet him again in the next life.   Tupanachiskama my sweet, beautiful baby as we say in Quechua, or see you in the next life. Goodbye!