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The festival of Inti Raymi
The sun was the principal object of Inca worship and at their winter solstice, in June, the Incas honored the solar deity with a great celebration known as Inti Raymi, the sun festival. The Spanish suppressed the Inca religion, and the last royal Inti Raymi was celebrated in 1535.
However, in 1944 a group of Cusco intellectuals, inspired by the contemporary ‘indigenous' movement, revived the old ceremony in the form of a pageant, putting it together from chronicles and historical documents. The event caught the public imagination, and it has been celebrated every year since then on 24 Jun, now a Cusco public holiday. Hundreds, of local men and women play the parts of Inca priests, nobles, chosen women, soldiers (played by the local army garrison), runners, and the like. The coveted part of the Inca emperor, Pachacuti, is won by audition, and the event is organized by the municipal authorities. It begins around 1000 at the Qoricancha – the former sun temple of Cusco – and winds its way up the main avenue into the Plaza de Armas, accompanied by songs, ringing, declarations and the occasional drink of chichi. At the main plaza, Cusco's presiding mayor is whisked back to Inca times, to receive Pachacuti’s blessing and a stern lecture on good government. Climbing through Plaza Nazarenas and up Pumacurcu, the procession reaches the ruins of Sacsayhuaman at about 1400, where scores of thousands of people are gathered on the ancient stones. Before Pachacuti arrives, the Sinchi (Pachauti’s chief general) ushers in contingents from the four Suyus (regions) of the Inca empire. Much of the ceremony is based around alternating action between these four groups of players. A Chaski (messenger) enters to announce the imminent arrival of the Inca and his Coya (queen). Men sweep the ground before him, and women scatter flowers. The Inca takes the stage alone, and has a dialogue with the sun. Then he receives reports from the governors of the four Suyus. This is followed by a drink of the sacred chincha, the re-lighting of the sacred fire of the empire, the sacrifice (faked) of a llama, and the reading of auguries in its entrails. Finally, the ritual eating of sankhu (corn paste mixed with the victim’s blood) ends the ceremonies. The Inca gives a last message to his assembled children, and departs. The music and dancing continues until nightfall. 
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