FESTIVAL PUJLLAY DE TARABUCO

The Pujllay, which means "dance" or "game" in Quechua, is a different festival from the carnival of Oruro and typically peasant, which mixes pagan and Christian elements. On March 12, 1816, the battle of Jumbate took place in the province of Yamparáez, where the Spanish army was defeated. All the enemy troops were killed, except for a child, the drummer. This victory over the Spanish forces is celebrated every year.

The celebration of Pujllay begins with a great procession. On this occasion, the cobbled streets of Tarabuco welcome more than 60 communities of the province, dressed in traditional costumes or ceremonial clothes. Once gathered in the main square, the Yamparas go to the place where the battle took place, about 2 km from Tarabuco. There, after dancing to the sound of traditional instruments, notably the cherque and the senka tenkana, two large Andean upright flutes, the mass in Quechua known as Misa de las Almas de Jumbate, in memory of the victims of the battle, can begin. Strangely, at the end of the ceremony, men and women run back to Tarabuco.

In 2011 this festival was recognized as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. The Pujllay is appreciated by locals and tourists alike, who can stroll through the various stands, buy fabrics and souvenirs, and taste the specialties of the region.