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Photography from Bolivia, Chile, Peru and elsewhere in South America.

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Aymara New Year

The June 21st winter solstice has long been an important date for the indigenous people of the Andes; it is the shortest day of the year in the southern hemisphere and rituals were performed during the night to encourage the return of the sun. The date also marked the end of one agricultural cycle and the start of preparations for a new planting season. In Aymara the festival is known as Willkakuti / Willka Kuti (literally "Return of the Sun") and sunrise marks the start of the Aymara New Year. In Bolivia ceremonies attracting thousands of people have long been held at the important archaeological site of Tiwanaku. President Evo Morales declared the date a public holiday in 2010 (despite opposition from various sectors of the population) and the festival has increased in popularity as a result; events are now held held at many locations across the country and attended by people from all sections of society.

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Aymara people carrying a wiphala flag silhouetted against the sun during Aymara New Year celebrations, Tiwanaku, Bolivia
Aymara people carrying a wiphala flag silhouetted against the sun during Aymara New Year celebrations, Tiwanaku, Bolivia
Aymara people carrying a wiphala flag silhouetted against the sun during Aymara New Year celebrations, Tiwanaku, Bolivia
Local people dancing during Aymara New Year celebrations, Tiwanaku, Bolivia
Sicuris musicians playing sicus (panpipe or zampoña) during Aymara New Year celebrations, Tiwanaku, Bolivia
Sicuris musicians playing sicus (panpipe or zampoña) during Aymara New Year celebrations, Tiwanaku, Bolivia
Sicuris musicians playing sicus (panpipe or zampoña) during Aymara New Year celebrations, Tiwanaku, Bolivia
Sicuris musicians playing sicus (panpipe or zampoña) during Aymara New Year celebrations, Tiwanaku, Bolivia
Sicuris musicians playing sicus (panpipe or zampoña) during Aymara New Year celebrations, Tiwanaku, Bolivia
Sicuris musicians playing sicus (panpipe or zampoña) during Aymara New Year celebrations, Tiwanaku, Bolivia
Sicuris musician holding sicu (panpipe or zampoña) during Aymara New Year celebrations, Tiwanaku, Bolivia
Aymara people share communal coca leaves during Aymara New Year celebrations, Tiwanaku, Bolivia
A Bolivian family have their photo taken with a man dressed as a Tiwanaku leader during Aymara New Year celebrations, Tiwanak...
A Bolivian family have their photo taken with a man dressed as a Tiwanaku leader during Aymara New Year celebrations, Tiwanak...
A tourist has her photo taken with a man dressed as a Tiwanaku leader during Aymara New Year celebrations, Tiwanaku, Bolivia
Musician playing sicu (panpipe or zampoña) during Aymara New Year celebrations, Tiwanaku, Bolivia
Musician playing sicu (panpipe or zampoña) during Aymara New Year celebrations, Tiwanaku, Bolivia
Sun shining through main entrance to Kalasasaya temple soon after sunrise on June 21st solstice, Tiwanaku, Bolivia
Sun shining through main entrance to Kalasasaya temple soon after sunrise on June 21st solstice, Tiwanaku, Bolivia
An Aymara leader holds up his hands to receive the sun's energy at sunrise during Aymara New Year celebrations, Tiwanaku, Bol...
An Aymara leader holds up his hands to receive the sun's energy at sunrise during Aymara New Year celebrations, Tiwanaku, Bol...
An Aymara leader holds up his hands to receive the sun's energy at sunrise during Aymara New Year celebrations, Tiwanaku, Bol...
Aymara leader holding up maize and potatos as offerings at sunrise during Aymara New Year celebrations, Tiwanaku, Bolivia
An Aymara shaman or amauta holds up his hands to receive the sun's energy at sunrise during Aymara New Year celebrations, Tiw...
People hold up their hands to receive the sun's energy at sunrise during Aymara New Year celebrations, Tiwanaku, Bolivia
A man holds up his hands in a heart shape as he waits to receive the sun's energy at sunrise during Aymara New Year celebrati...
An Aymara man holds up his hands to receive the sun's energy at sunrise during Aymara New Year celebrations, Tiwanaku, Bolivia
People hold up their hands to receive the sun's energy at sunrise during Aymara New Year celebrations, Tiwanaku, Bolivia
People wait for sunrise while offerings burn on a ceremonial platform during Aymara New Year celebrations, Tiwanaku, Bolivia
Aymara shamans or amautas hold up their hands to receive the sun's energy at sunrise during Aymara New Year celebrations, Tiw...
Aymara shamans or amautas hold up their hands to receive the sun's energy at sunrise during Aymara New Year celebrations, Tiw...
Aymara shamans or amautas hold up their hands to receive the sun's energy at sunrise during Aymara New Year celebrations, Tiw...
Aymara shamans or amautas hold up their hands to receive the sun's energy at sunrise during Aymara New Year celebrations, Tiw...
Aymara shamans or amautas hold up their hands to receive the sun's energy at sunrise during Aymara New Year celebrations, Tiw...
Aymara shamans or amautas hold up their hands to receive the sun's energy at sunrise during Aymara New Year celebrations, Tiw...
Aymara shamans or amautas wait for sunrise during Aymara New Year celebrations, Tiwanaku, Bolivia
Aymara leader holding maize offerings during Aymara New Year celebrations, Tiwanaku, Bolivia
Aymara leaders waiting for sunrise during Aymara New Year celebrations, Tiwanaku, Bolivia
Aymara leaders waiting for sunrise during Aymara New Year celebrations, Tiwanaku, Bolivia
People waiting for sunrise during Aymara New Year celebrations, Tiwanaku, Bolivia
Aymara shamans or amautas watching offerings burning during Aymara New Year celebrations, Tiwanaku, Bolivia
Aymara shamans or amautas watching offerings burning during Aymara New Year celebrations, Tiwanaku, Bolivia
Aymara shaman or amauta pouring alcohol on firewood at start of Aymara New Year celebrations, Tiwanaku, Bolivia
Aymara leaders putting offerings on firewood at start of Aymara New Year celebrations, Tiwanaku, Bolivia
Aymara shamans or amautas performing ceremonies at start of Aymara New Year celebrations, Tiwanaku, Bolivia
Aymara shamans or amautas performing ceremonies at start of Aymara New Year celebrations, Tiwanaku, Bolivia
Aymara shamans or amautas performing ceremonies at start of Aymara New Year celebrations, Tiwanaku, Bolivia
Aymara shamans or amautas performing ceremonies at start of Aymara New Year celebrations, Tiwanaku, Bolivia
Aymara shamans or amautas performing ceremonies at start of Aymara New Year celebrations, Tiwanaku, Bolivia
Aymara shamans or amautas performing ceremonies at start of Aymara New Year celebrations, Tiwanaku, Bolivia
Aymara shaman or amauta carrying a decorated llama foetus offering at start of Aymara New Year celebrations, Tiwanaku, Bolivia
Aymara shaman or amauta carrying a decorated llama foetus offering at start of Aymara New Year celebrations, Tiwanaku, Bolivia
Aymara leaders holding maize and potatos as offerings during Aymara New Year celebrations, Tiwanaku, Bolivia
Aymara shaman or amauta blowing conch shell at start of Aymara New Year celebrations, Tiwanaku, Bolivia
Aymara shamans or amautas perform rituals at sunrise for Aymara New Year celebrations, La Paz, Bolivia
An Aymara shaman or amauta performs rituals before sunrise for Aymara New Year celebrations, La Paz, Bolivia
Aymara tarqueada musicians playing tarkas (a type of flute) during Aymara New Year celebrations, La Cumbre, Cordillera Real, ...
Aymara musicians playing quenas (a type of flute) during Aymara New Year celebrations, La Cumbre, Cordillera Real, Bolivia
Aymara musicians playing quenas (a type of flute) during Aymara New Year celebrations, La Cumbre, Cordillera Real, Bolivia
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