The Decentralized Directorate of Culture (DDCC) granted parishioners and Cusco regional authorities a Deputy ministerial Resolution, which declares ‘Virgen Asunta de Coya’ festivity a Cultural heritage of the Nation.
Corresponding delivery was in charge of Marco Marces Pareja, Deputy Director of Cultural Heritage at the Decentralized Culture Directorate. The officer attended the event on behalf of Director Ricardo Ruiz Caro.
He emphasized the relevance of this award because it enables to preserve this important tradition while maintaining standards of originality; an essential factor to create the village inhabitants' collective memory and cultural identity.
Coya district municipality Mayor, Paulo Quino Rodríguez thanked this important declaration, because it leads his administration to committing to preserving this valuable heritage, which gains relevance every day, since it is an essential axis of cultural and social development in the country.
Within the framework of Virgen Asunta de Coya festivity main day, 27 troupes portraying different folk dances, organized by mayordomo (Spanish word) carguyoc (Quechua word) and devotees, thanked the government officials for this important award.
Communal work
The Knowledge, Practices and rituals associated to the communal work of repaje (ancestral repair of a temple's roof) or wasichacuy (Quechua word) of San Francisco de Asís Church based in Marcapata, Quispicanchi province, were also declared Cultural Heritages of the Nation.
During the crowded awarding ceremony, led by Cultural Heritage Deputy Minister Juan Pablo de la Puente and the Decentralized Directorate of Culture (DDCC) Chief Ricardo Ruiz Caro, the resolution was handed over to community leaders and residents, who took part in this traditional activity held every four years.
"Repaje, besides being an activity, that unites and strengthens community’s social bonds, is a cultural identity element, which makes all involved populations proud," Ruiz Caro told.
The aforementioned church was built by Franciscan Missionaries thanks to the financial contribution of Bishop Manuel Mollinedo y Angulo during the second half of the 17th Century.
Thatched roof is renovated by Marcapata Collana, Sahuancay, Puyca, Ccollasuyo, Incacancha, Yanacocha, Union Araza, Huaracconi, Socapata and Yanacancha community members.
During the community service, complex spatial and social organizations are put in place. The use of antique technology based on thatching with hay, offerings and rituals to apus (Gods from the mountains) and pachamama (Mother Earth), as well as music and oral traditions are featured.