Visiones de la ciudad de Ayaviri

The story

A newsreel from the 1940s depicts the festivities honoring the Virgin of Alta Gracia in Ayaviri, one of the most important cities in the Puno region and the capital of the Melgar province. The faithful gather outside the church for the traditional procession through the streets, and a large crowd, led by authorities and prominent figures, parades toward the main square. One of the main activities is the bullfighting festival, where only drum dances are performed and the bull is not killed. Another traditional custom is Huaccha Caray, which involves giving food to the poor. The dance competition was a highlight of the festivities, with twenty groups participating, the winning group being from the district of Santa Rosa.