- Title: Bolivians honour Mother Earth, with celebrations and offerings to "Pachamama"
- Date: 1st August 2017
- Summary: EL ALTO, BOLIVIA (AUGUST 1, 2017) (REUTERS) BOLIVIAN WOMAN PRAYING WITH MOUNTAINS AND SUNRISE IN BACKGROUND PROFILE CLOSE UP OF WOMAN'S FACE AS SHE PRAYS SUN RISING OVER BOLIVIAN MOUNTAINS WOMAN PRAYING TO PACHAMAMA WITH A TABLE OF OFFERINGS BURNING AT HER FEET CLOSE UP OF BURNING OFFERING TO PACHAMAMA COUPLE BURNING OFFERING TO PACHAMAMA WITH CITY AND MOUNTAINS IN BACKGROUND COUPLE BURNING OFFERING TO PACHAMAMA (SOUNDBITE) (Aymara) BOLIVIAN WOMAN JUSTINA VILA BAUTISTA SAYING: "We have to greatly appreciate Pachamama, we always say that it's just dirt, but it's not like that, Pachamama is very valuable because Mother Earth gives us food, the earth gives us all our food and that's why we have to be grateful." LA PAZ, BOLIVIA (AUGUST 1, 2017) (REUTERS) GROUP OF VEHICLES TAKING PART IN CEREMONY WITH BOLIVIAN MOUNTAINS IN BACKGROUND MAN SPRAYING BEER AS AN OFFERING TO PACHAMAMA WOMAN BLOWING SMOKE TO ASK FOR A BLESSING FROM PACHAMAMA WOMAN BLOWING SMOKE TO ASK FOR A BLESSING FOR VEHICLES WOMAN BLOWING SMOKE OVER A CAR ENGINE CLOSE UP OF AN OFFERING FOR PACHAMAMA CONTAINING FRUIT MAN SPRAYING BEER ON AN OFFERING FOR PACHAMAMA (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) PACHAMAMA FAITHFUL, ISMAEL HUARACHI, SAYING: "And maybe I'll ask for a little more prosperity, a little more affection, a little more health for my family, a little more well-being for my family above all, for my children, for me, for my sister, my wife and above all for my whole family." STATUE OF CHRIST ON MOUNTAINS ABOVE LA PAZ, BOLIVIA WITH VEHICLES IN A LINE MAN BLESSING WOMAN WITH INCENSE MEN THROWING LIQUID ON BURNING OFFERING CLOSE UP OF BURNING OFFERING WITH LLAMA FETUS BURNING OFFERING MEN AROUND BURNING OFFERING MAN USING BELL TO BLESS WOMAN VEHICLES BEING BLESSED CLOSE UP OF VEHICLE BEING BLESSED MAN HOLDING INCENSE UP TO SKY CLOSE UP OF INCENSE WOMAN SPRAYING BEER ON GROUND MAN SPRAYING BEER ON BUSES (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) PACHAMAMA FAITHFUL ROBERTO JUSTINO HUANCA SAYING: "This ceremony that we are carrying out with tables to Pachamama, (we do) so that Pachamama and the mountains and the spirits bless us. And, that's why father sun and mother moon guide us in this living world." HUANCA HOLDING UP A BELL AND AN OFFERING TO PACHAMAMA
- Embargoed: 15th August 2017 20:07
- Keywords: Bolivia Pachamama Mother Earth Andes Aymara Quechua
- Location: EL ALTO AND LA PAZ, BOLIVIA
- City: EL ALTO AND LA PAZ, BOLIVIA
- Country: Bolivia
- Topics: Human Interest / Brights / Odd News,Religion/Belief,Society/Social Issues
- Reuters ID: LVA0016SBT743
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: High atop the Andes, indigenous Bolivians gathered at dawn on Tuesday (August 1) to honour Pachamama, the goddess of the earth and fertility, on the Day of Mother Earth. In Bolivia, believers go to high elevations to burn ritual tables with animal fat, colored paper and sweets to thank Pachamama. The tradition, which extends from the North of Argentina and Chile through Peru and Bolivia, is celebrated with offerings that can include sheep fetuses, desiccated llamas, medicinal plants, eggs, minerals and even live animals that are sacrificed for the favor of the goddess.
August is the chosen month for the offerings because the first agricultural season ends in the Andean world, and according to indigenous communities it is this time of year when Mother Earth 'opens her mouth' in hopes of being venerated with offerings that pay back the fruits she has given and those she will give in the future. The ceremonies can be celebrated during the entire month, but August 1st is the preferred day to make offerings.
Ismael Huarachi, a participant in the rituals, said, "maybe I'll ask for a little more prosperity, a little more affection, a little more health for my family." Another believer, Justina Vila Bautista described her reason for taking part in the ceremonies by saying, "Mother Earth gives us food, the earth gives us all our food and that's why we have to be grateful."
These rituals have been celebrated in Bolivia for centuries in indigenous communities, although they have been adapted through time and currently they are performed in cities and even public institutions. In cities, people celebrate the so-called 'coachadas' or petitions to Mother Earth to bless vehicles, homes or businesses and ask for health, money and goods.
Pachamama is the highest divinity of the Aymara and Quechua peoples, the protector goddess of all material things, and the faithful make their offerings because they believe Mother Earth is exhausted after providing for humanity. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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