Carnival in the Andes is a vibrant cultural mosaic that fuses ancestral rituals of native peoples with colonial and Christian elements.
With the purpose of celebrating the fertility of the earth and paying tribute to Pachamama, an amazing expression of syncretism is generated.
The copleros and copleras of Cachi have revived the ancestral rondas in their homes, just as their ancestors did, with the intention of preserving their identity and deep-rooted traditions.
Jacinto and Lucas Cardozo, two dear friends from Cachi, share their memories with me: “In times past, we arrived on horseback with our boxes. At each house they awaited us with food and drink, and so we continued from round to round, carrying the spirit of the Carnival. It is a tradition that we wish to preserve and transmit to the next generations.”
These photographs are part of “Andean Rituals in the Calchaquí Valley”, a long-term essay that I began in 2015 and continues to this day.
