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PAUCARTAMBO
Cuzco
Festival
Chile
Bolivia
Brazil
Colombia
Ecuador
Paci�cOcean Lima
LakeTiticaca
Cuzco
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In the month of July the province of Paucartambo once again
renews its religious faith, joyfulness and hope for a better
tomorrow under the celestial protection of Our Lady of Mount
Carmel, the patroness of the province. The �rst celebrations in
honor of “Mamacha Carmen” took place in 1662, with the arrival of
Spanish religious orders. Initially, the celebrations were
organized by the so-called “mistis” and then by local people, until
over time dance groups developed that were based upon Spanish and
indigenous customs. There exist many versions telling of how the
Virgin �rst appeared, but one version enjoys the widest acceptance:
In the 16th century, the Spanish Crown sent two images of Our Lady
of Mount Carmel to
Peru; one for the Paucartambo district, and the other for Puno.
The largest and most beautiful statue arrived at the former,
producing considerable discontent among the people of Puno. During
the coming years, with great faith and affection the people of the
old region of Antisuyo celebrated the arrival with religious
ceremonies, songs and dancing, meaning that each year the faithful
of Puno visited Paucartambo, bringing with them on their caravans
of llamas offerings for Mamacha Carmen.The Patroness of Paucartambo
measures 1.30 meters in height and weighs 26 pounds, while the
image of the Christ Child weighs 1 pound. Together with the
scepter, crown and vestments, the total weight is 57 pounds. For
the festivities,
the distinguished women of Paucartambo select the �nest attire
from the beautiful and colorful clothing donated by the faithful.
These items are richly embroidered with gold thread and precious
stones in the cape, scapular and tunic, which are extremely
expensive to produce and very valuable. On July 15 the image of the
Virgin is �nely dressed and set upon her litter, adorned with
delicate tulle, angels and �owers.Every year the central �gure of
the festivities is the Prioste, who is responsible for organizing
the worship and celebrations, with the help of family members and
friends, as well as the Provincial Municipality and religious
institutions. Currently, 14 folkloric dance groups participate,
and each one is hosted by a “carguyoc” who �nances and takes care
of the dancers during each day of the festivities, in accordance
with the traditions and customs that have been passed down for
approximately 400 years. The Prioste and the carguyocs assume their
commitments voluntarily and as a sign of their devotion to the
Virgin.The sense of faith is so strong that it is passed on from
one generation to the next, and those people of Paucartambo who
participate in the folkloric dances, as well as those who come to
witness the celebrations, do so because they identify fully with
the signi�cance of their Mamacha Carmen.
Mylene D’Auriol
-
In the month of July the province of Paucartambo once again
renews its religious faith, joyfulness and hope for a better
tomorrow under the celestial protection of Our Lady of Mount
Carmel, the patroness of the province. The �rst celebrations in
honor of “Mamacha Carmen” took place in 1662, with the arrival of
Spanish religious orders. Initially, the celebrations were
organized by the so-called “mistis” and then by local people, until
over time dance groups developed that were based upon Spanish and
indigenous customs. There exist many versions telling of how the
Virgin �rst appeared, but one version enjoys the widest acceptance:
In the 16th century, the Spanish Crown sent two images of Our Lady
of Mount Carmel to
Mamacha Carmén
Dancer
Peru; one for the Paucartambo district, and the other for Puno.
The largest and most beautiful statue arrived at the former,
producing considerable discontent among the people of Puno. During
the coming years, with great faith and affection the people of the
old region of Antisuyo celebrated the arrival with religious
ceremonies, songs and dancing, meaning that each year the faithful
of Puno visited Paucartambo, bringing with them on their caravans
of llamas offerings for Mamacha Carmen.The Patroness of Paucartambo
measures 1.30 meters in height and weighs 26 pounds, while the
image of the Christ Child weighs 1 pound. Together with the
scepter, crown and vestments, the total weight is 57 pounds. For
the festivities,
the distinguished women of Paucartambo select the �nest attire
from the beautiful and colorful clothing donated by the faithful.
These items are richly embroidered with gold thread and precious
stones in the cape, scapular and tunic, which are extremely
expensive to produce and very valuable. On July 15 the image of the
Virgin is �nely dressed and set upon her litter, adorned with
delicate tulle, angels and �owers.Every year the central �gure of
the festivities is the Prioste, who is responsible for organizing
the worship and celebrations, with the help of family members and
friends, as well as the Provincial Municipality and religious
institutions. Currently, 14 folkloric dance groups participate,
and each one is hosted by a “carguyoc” who �nances and takes care
of the dancers during each day of the festivities, in accordance
with the traditions and customs that have been passed down for
approximately 400 years. The Prioste and the carguyocs assume their
commitments voluntarily and as a sign of their devotion to the
Virgin.The sense of faith is so strong that it is passed on from
one generation to the next, and those people of Paucartambo who
participate in the folkloric dances, as well as those who come to
witness the celebrations, do so because they identify fully with
the signi�cance of their Mamacha Carmen.
Myl
ene
D’A
urio
l
Myl
ene
D’A
urio
l
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LA CANDELARIA
Puno
Lima
Puno
Chile
Bolivia
Brazil
Colombia
Ecuador
Paci�cOcean
LakeTiticaca
Festival
-
The most important folkloric event in the Puno region is without
a doubt the festivity devoted to honoring the Virgin of Candelaria.
Her �esta is the most spectacular in the country, with its
admirable combination of Spanish and indigenous traditions
expressed in religious, cultural and folkloric lavishness making it
one of the most impressive traditional celebrations found not just
in Peru, but anywhere in Latin America or the rest of the
world.
The main festivity takes place on the �rst Sunday of February,
while the eighth day of the �esta of the Virgin is celebrated on
the second Sunday in February.
The festivities in honor of the Virgin are divided into two
stages:
The main �esta is held on the �rst Sunday of February, and the
eighth day of the festivities honoring the Virgin is held on the
second Sunday in February.
Mylene D’Auriol
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On this day the indigenous dance competition is held in which
almost �fty dance groups perform a folkloric demonstration in the
local “Enrique Torres Belón” Stadium, in the city of Puno. To mark
this occasion, the populations of Quechua and Aymara communities
travel great distances to the city, where they pay homage to the
Virgin of Candelaria, expressing their devotion with a great
variety of typical dances characterized by their liturgical nature
and performed to the languid and sometimes melancholy music played
on traditional wind and percussion instruments.
FIRST SUNDAYIN FEBRUARY:
The festival to mark the eighth day of the �esta in honor of the
Virgin of Candelaria begins during the morning with a dance
competition in which the competitors wear elaborate and colorful
costumes decorated with shimmering sequins. The competition is held
in the “Enrique Torres Belón” Stadium, with approximately 70 dance
groups composed of between 150 and 1000 individuals in each group,
with the groups divided into different categories. Among the most
elaborate dances are: Morenadas, Diabladas, Sayas, Cullahuadas,
Wacawacas, Sicuris, Tinkus and Kallawayas. It is interesting to
note how the majority of the dances are presented to the
accompaniment of more than two bands of musicians.After midday,
once again the streets of Puno will be �lled with a procession in
honor of the Virgin of Candelaria, with the image of the Virgin
accompanied by local leaders and crowds of the faithful, and
followed by the different dance groups, who perform to express
their devotion to the Virgin.
SECOND SUNDAYIN FEBRUARY:
In the late afternoon the celebrations on the eve of the eighth
day of the �esta begin with the candlelit procession in which
hundreds of Christian faithful take part. After this, the Kapos of
the different communities of Puno enter the procession, and the
evening in honor of the Virgin ends with a �rework display and the
presence of the dance groups from the different urban districts of
Puno.
SECOND SATURDAYIN FEBRUARY:
Dancers
Musician
Myl
ene
D’A
urio
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Myl
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D’A
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The veneration of the Virgin of Candelaria continues with the
Great Folkloric Parade through the main streets of the city, where
the procession of different dance groups will perform with great
faith and devotion in honor of the Virgin, while presenting her
with �oral offerings.
The route taken by the dancers covers about four kilometers, and
it is a spectacular procession, with the many colors and ceaseless
movement of the dance groups forming what resembles a great woven
carpet of sound and motion, as they make their way through the
streets. All the dance groups present their individual choreography
during the procession, in a predetermined order, and the procession
continues until late into the night
SECOND MONDAYIN FEBRUARY:
Ballerina
Myl
ene
D’A
urio
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Av. Grau 300, Mira�oresLima - PerúTelf: (511) 444-1313 Fax:
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