The Inti Raymi festival was the most important Inca festival. It was to worship Inti, tthe Sun God, from whom the Inca was believed to be descended.

It celebrated the beginning of the Inca calendar, at the winter solstice, 21st June. The Incas believed that the sun was furthest away from the Earth at this time, and prayed that He would return to his children.
It was also the end of the potato and maize harvests, so they gave thanks for a good harvest, or asked for a better harvest the following year.

For three days prior to the festival they fasted and abstained from sex.

Before dawn on the morning of the festival, the nobles, including the mummies of the Incan ancestors (mallki), gathered in Cusco's main square. They greeted the sunrise with loud kisses on their fingers and weepy songs (wakay taky)

The rays of the sun shone on the golden walls of the main temple (Coricancha). The Inca and his retinue left the Coricancha and passed through the Street of the Sun (Intik'iqllu)to the main square. Here the High Priest (Uillac Umu) sacrificed a pure black or pure white llama using a golden ceremonial knife (tumi)

After the sacrifice, the High Priest mdade fire by concentrating the sun's rays into an oily liquid in a shallow dish. This fire was tended by the Virgins of the Sun (aqllas) in their house (aqllawasi) and the Coricancha during the proceding year.

The Inca held two golden goblets (aqillas) of chicha ( an alcoholic drink made from maize by the aqllas chewing and regurgitating it) He offered the one in his right hand to the sun, then poured it into a golden trench which led to the Coricancha. He sipped from the left hand goblet, then gave it to the nobility, who each took small sips.

The priests offered round bread made from bread and the blood of the sacrificed llama.

After the rituals were over there was singing and dancing and much chicha.
~ Bruin Inca