Take a Lucky Flight to Sinakara for Peace of Mind / 🇵🇪 Peru

Begin at the lower edge of the photograph. Across the ground you can see tents, people and the red roofs of the sanctuary in the Sinakara valley near Ocongate. The walking approach from Mahuayani is part of the pilgrimage to the Lord of Qoyllur Rit’i. People come together there with their own ways of taking part. On this flight, move your gaze slowly from the open ground to the people gathered closer to the buildings. Pick a thought you want to give your attention to, perhaps a wish for someone you have been missing or a little time to settle your mind. Let the distance between the two ends of the picture set the pace.

1. Open the photograph and start with the ground in the foreground. Move your eyes toward the valley before looking for the sanctuary.
2. Find the red roofs on the far slope. Look at the tents and people around them and picture reaching a place where groups have come together.
3. Choose a short wish for peace of mind or for someone close to you. Stay with that wish while you look at a single part of the valley.
4. Look across the photograph once more. When you are ready, record the arrival in your passport.

The pilgrimage brings together Catholic and Andean traditions in the Sinakara valley. Groups of pilgrims gather under the guidance of their own organisations, including the Council of Pilgrim Nations and the Brotherhood of the Lord of Qoyllurit’i. Dance and processions form part of the event. The approach from Mahuayani is a walk toward a place in the mountains where many journeys meet. The panorama shows the gathering in 2007, with the roofs of the sanctuary standing above rows of tents. It allows you to see the scale of the place at a glance. From the open ground at the front to the far side of the valley, the photograph shows why looking at the route is part of understanding the gathering.