Religion & Festivals

Worshipping the natural world and one's ancestors was a traditional belief. Today's religious landscape is diverse, with many members of the Yampara community converting to Christianity after the Spanish colonisation.

The Yampara calendar focuses on two major occasions. Both occasions honor the changing of the seasons, with one honoring the dry season and the other the wet season:

Pullay: To commemorate the rebirth of life brought on by the rainy season, this magnificent annual cultural festival is held on the third Sunday in March. The word "Pullay" in Quechua means "game," and during celebrations, men perform music and dance while dressed as demon-like beings called Tata Pujllay.

Ayarichi: The Yampara community dedicates dances to Catholic saints as part of this celebration of the dry season. The Yampara believe that these saints are in charge of preserving life as well as cosmic and social events.

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