During 2021, the Covid-19 pandemic did not allow this traditional event of the Kichwa culture to take place.
Drafting IMBABURA
One of the most important festivities for the Kichwa culture of the Ecuadorian Sierra is the Pawkar Raymi. Within the indigenous worldview, this celebration takes place around the flowering time, in which Mother Earth is thanked (Pachamama in Kichwa).
In Peguche, one of the communities in the province of Imbabura with the greatest indigenous presence, this holiday has taken on different shades over the years, but the importance for those who make up the Kichwa groups has not changed and has become a reason for reunion and celebration.
They will return after the pandemic
During 2021, all the events that are organized around the Pawkar raymi, which apart from being cultural in nature are sports and gastronomic, mainly, they were obligatorily suspended by a resolution of the Otavalo Emergency Operations Committee (COE), so the organizers have prepared in advance for 2022.
Efraín Amaguaña, general coordinator of Pawkar Raymi in Peguche, indicated that the support of public institutions is clearly in the logistics field, but that They have a budget of around $ 100,000, thanks to the contribution of the private company and the seven neighborhoods of the community, also known as Miguel Egas Cabezas.
“We want to highlight mainly the social and cultural theme, give a total turn to Pawkar Raymi, benefiting the families of Peguche, thus also the canton and the province, presenting an organization and structure with activities that can be made visible both during the day and at night “he commented.
In addition, due to the historical significance of this celebration, he said that the Ministry of Culture has been requested to Pawkar Raymi is declared a holiday of national interest, “So that even the logo that is being handled can be produced as a kind of brand, so that the following organizers do not have that need to generate them again, as if starting from scratch.”
15 days of activities
The different events that are organized around the Pawkar Raymi will be organized from February 19, 2022 to March 5, but with the final agenda yet to be defined.
However, activities include cultural events, such as ancestral ceremonies, concerts, gastronomic fairs, fashion shows with traditional clothing …
In sports are the soccer championships, basketball, traditional games, cycling competitions, among others.
“We will have a fashion show with Andean influencers, to show the world the creations of local artisans. Sports activities will no longer be centralized in the Peguche stadium, but will involve the neighborhoods. For example, him Pawkar Cycling it is going to take place in Imbaqui, where there will also be the ‘trail’ ”, explained Amaguaña.
Economic benefit
The amount of people estimated by the organizers to attend Pawkar Raymi 2022, is an average of 50,000, for which they assured that it is an initiative that also hopes to provide economic benefits not only to the families of Peguche, but indirectly to hoteliers, restaurants, transportation, of Otavalo and the province.
On the other hand, they explained that despite having the organization quite advanced, almost 90%, if the National COE adopt other types of measures Faced with the Covid-19 pandemic, for February and March 2022, they will abide by the corresponding provisions, as they already did in 2021, when the entire agenda was suspended.
Meaning for the Kichwa culture
The Pawkar Raymi, apart from being one of the most important festivals in Peguche, it is a celebration of the entire indigenous people.
According to the Municipality of Otavalo, it is a cultural, social and sports festival that takes place every year in the month of February in the community of Peguche.
“On this festival, Peguche dresses in her own colors: the ‘karis’ in blue and white, the ‘warmis’ in blue, white and fuchsia. It is said that it is time for Pawkar, when is the flowering, where we meet again “they explain.
Among the most outstanding acts, is the ceremony of Tumarina, where water and flowers are the protagonists.
The act begins very early, when the women start with the collection of wild flowers and water from the different slopes surrounding the communitiesknown for their healing and positive energy gifts.
This ritual consists of deposit some water and flowers on the other person’s head. Children do it with their elders, be they parents or grandparents, in a ceremonial game of respect and purification to flourish.
Also, as part of the Pawkar Raymi, the election and coronation of the Ñusta, where each of the Kichwa communities and peoples participates with a representative.
The Runakay, where traditional clothing takes the greatest relevance, because It is mandatory to wear typical indigenous clothing, which in the case of men consists of a poncho, shirt, white pants and espadrilles. And in the case of women, an embroidered shirt, fachalina, anaco and espadrilles.
In case of being mestizos or from another culture, They must attend with a suit and women with gala dresses.
En el Pawkar Raymi predominan dos elementos que están dentro de la cosmovisión andina: el agua y las flores. A esta festividad también se la conoce en algunas comunidades como Sisay Pacha.
