Did you ever heard about “Takanakuy”? Did you have wanted the opportunity to straight up your differences with somebody you knew in a fight, enjoin a good food, special dress, dance and booze? Well a lot people call that Saturday night.
Chumbivilcas is a province in the Andes, South Peru, and according to the Peru 2005 Census 77,721 inhabitants, rural communities families with eight and more children are not unusual, one of the poorest regions of the country.
The people in the province are mainly indigenous citizens of Quechua descent.
Takanakuy Festival for beginners
Each December 25th part of the population from Chumbivilcas Province reunite to the Takanakuy “festival”, where participants practice of fighting fellow community members.
The practice started in Santo Tomás, the capital of Chumbivilcas, and has now spread to other villages and cities, the prominent ones being Cuzco and Lima.
The festival consists of dancing and of individuals fighting each other to settle old conflicts or simply to display their manhood.
Those holding the grudges call out their opponents by their first and last name.
Kicking and punching are allowed in the middle of the circle. Biting, hitting those on the ground, or pulling hair is not allowed during the fight, this is a civilized community!
Although the government of Lima has tried to eradicate Takanakuy Festival, the celebration has diffused into urban areas such as Cuzco and Lima.
People of non-indigenous descent are now taking part in this originally indigenous cultural custom, yeah, why not?
Then everybody goes drinking to numb the pain and move on to a new year.
Now serious, tells us, don’t you have a co-worker, neighbor, a church member you have a beef with?