Andean New Year

For the Winter Soltice there is another Bolivian National Holiday. Andean New Year is celebrated by greeting the sun as it rises on the first day after the winter soltice. It is celebrated in many different locations. The most famous in Bolivia would be at Tiwanaku located in the altiplano outside of La Paz. The president usually goes there. His inauguration was held at Tiwanaku.



Here in Cochabamba the famous location is the ruins of Incarakay located outside of the town of Sipe Sipe. Pictured on the right on an ordinary day. People go to mountain tops usually the night before, or arrive just before the sunrise. Hands are raised to greet the sun, various blessings and celebrations take place which change from location to location.