¡Feliz Machaq Mara!

The 5,518th Machaq Mara, "the return of the sun" (or if you prefer, the Andean New Year) is with us. Best wishes for a great year to one and all.

Happy New Year

Photo taken at yesterday's Andean New Year (June 21st) ceremony at the Kalasasaya* ceremonial grounds in Tiahuanco, Bolivia. This year is marked down as number 5,517 but all involved admit that's a guess. The number is taken by adding five millenia to the 517 years since Colombus 'discovered' the Americas. The above shot is of one of the main Yatiri (priest, shaman, wise man if you like...you choose) in full ceremony, burning what looks like the aromatic wood 'palo santo'.

*Sounds impressive, but in its original Aymara language simply means "place of the upright standing stones". However a visit to Tiuhuanaco is by no means mundane; a very special place and well worth putting on your wish list.