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Aymara Wedding / PERU { 37 images } Created 27 Apr 2013

Among the peruvian islands of Lake Titicaca Amantani is the largest. It 'a place imbued with a magic of its own, as it is immersed in the silence of the lake and strong colors of the Andes.
Dominated by the Incan ruins on its heights, the island live off the land and plenty of sheep's wool, the women wear the traditional costume as everyday dress, electric light and motor vehicles are totally missing. Everyone is using the Aymara, language pre-Columbian used instead of Spanish during both official and private.
A wedding to Amantani is a public event which involves all the inhabitants of the island. A wedding like that of Felix and Guendy is celebrated when the house is ready , even if the children have already been born. In Aymara wedding, civil ceremony, not a Catholic, mingle Andean symbols and universal symbols, godparents have a fundamental role in supporting stronger than that of the parents, the gifts that all the inhabitants carry the bride and groom, are nothing more than " choclo y papas ", corn and potatoes, to cook; atavistic sign of the basic necessity of preserving food for the difficult moments . The banquet consists of a single dish, the usual everyday but more abundant. It 's a vibrant and colorful celebration, which lasts several hours, eating, drinking and dancing, a party whose light (the energy) will eventually come symbolically to the bridal chamber.
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  • The Amantani Island, Peru..Beneath the proud  statue of the Inca King, everyone celebrates with the newly married couple as they come out of the Town Hall.
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  • The Amantani Island, Peru..The only way people can get round the island is on foot, and women dress every day in their beautifully embroidered national costumes.
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  • The Amantani Island, Peru..Whilst looking after sheep, chatting on the doorstep or just walking - the women of Amantani are always knitting.
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  • The Amantani Island, Peru..There will be much dancing at the reception - even before the bride and groom, the guests begin to dance.
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  • The Amantani Island, Peru..Every Sunday morning representatives of the eight communities of the island, the ?Tenientes?, hold an assembly in the main square.
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  • The Amantani Island, Peru..Every Sunday there is a public meeting held by the ?Tenientes? of the eight island communities. The pole hanging on the wall under the hat and coloured sash are their distinguishing mark.
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  • The Amantani Island, Peru..A long necklace is a symbol of a long marriage according to the tradition of the people of the Amantani Island.
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  • The Amantani Island, Peru..Quechua weddings are also solidified by the wedding ring.
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  • The Amantani Island, Peru..The first toast is proposed by Felix and Guendy after the Mayor of the Island has declared them husband and wife.
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  • The Amantani Island, Peru..There are brightly coloured confetti and biscuits as soon as they are married.
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  • The Amantani Island, Peru..Like many other couples, Felix and Guendy got married when their house was ready. Their son is almost two years old, but in the Andean culture there are no shotgun weddings.
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  • The Amantani Island, Peru..The coca leaf is used socially and is never missing at parties and in everyday life.
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  • The Amantani Island, Peru..Escorted by the band, the guests go to the wedding feast.
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  • The Amantani Island, Peru..For the men, the wedding receptions mean a good drink of  ?canaco?.
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  • The Amantani Island, Peru..With mouths sweetened with sugar, respects are paid to the bride and groom
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  • The Amantani Island, Peru..Felix and Guendy's wedding reception.
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  • The Amantani Island, Peru..Andean cereals par excellence. Served with potatoes, corn is at the heart of all the wedding gifts for Felix and Guendy. Food for cooking is a useful gift on an island where resources are in short supply.
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  • The Amantani Island, Peru..It seems as though Guendy is in charge. Everyone who comes to pay their respects to Guendy and her husband brings gifts of food to be cooked. Basic necessities are so important in a place where resources are in short supply.
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  • The Amantani Island, Peru..With the godparents at their side, Felix and Guendy eat the lavish wedding meal. The cake made with liquor and decorated with kantuta flowers has to have a place on the wedding table.
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  • The Amantani Island, Peru..Elegantly dressed, as befits the occasion, the godmother of Felix tastes the broth prepared for the wedding meal . The role of godfather and godmother is very important in a marriage, their support will be just as strong as that given by the parents.
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  • The Amantani Island, Peru..The gifts are laid out on the table for all to admire.
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  • The Amantani Island, Peru..It is common to give money as a wedding present.
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  • The Amantani Island, Peru..The parents-in-law wear the most garish clothes.
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  • The Amantani Island, Peru..One of the mothers-in-law doing the honours, offering soft drinks to the guests.
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  • The Amantani Island, Peru..At the wedding reception.
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  • The Amantani Island, Peru..The men get together wearing their wedding clothes and sometimes with the kantuta flower, symbol of the island, in their hats.
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  • The Amantani Island, Peru..The ?chuspa? is an embroidered bag containing precious coca leaves.
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  • The Amantani Island, Peru..The coca leaf is one of the mainstays of the Andean culture. It is even chewed at parties in company.
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  • The Amantani Island, Peru.. Parties are an occasion for indulging in drink.
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  • The Amantani Island, Peru..Lead by the godfather, Feliz and Guendy newly-weds who live on the island situated in the Peruvian part of Lake Titicaca start the dancing at their wedding reception.
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  • The Amantani Island, Peru..The dancing will go on for many more hours for the guests of Felix and Guendy.
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  • The Amantani Island, Peru..Felix and Guendy in the whirling of the dance.
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  • The Amantani Island, Peru..Everyone dances at Felix and Guendy's wedding reception.
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  • The Amantani Island,   Peru..Husband and wife, godfather and godmother have exchanged hats. Still dancing the guests leave the wedding reception taking with them the candles as they head towards the house of the newlyweds.
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  • The Amantani Island,   Peru..Most tourists feel a little silly dressing up in the local costume and dancing, but nevertheless they enjoy it.
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  • The Amantani Island, Peru.Felix is intent on looking after the light until they reach home, while the sun is setting on Lake Titicaca.
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  • The Amantani Island, Peru.The godmother puts the last banknotes on the bride and grooms wedding outfits. The candles are alight and they are on their wedding bed in their new home,  and so the party ends.
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