Strange and Unique Festivals in Bolivia

Macho Tinku Festival
There are many strange festivals around the world, but perhaps the "Macho Tinku" festival in Bolivia is one of the strangest. In the village of "Macha" in Bolivia's Andean highlands, a ritual is held each year by indigenous people that resembles a street fight, attracting thousands of visitors. The indigenous "Inca" people wear colorful traditional clothing and pair off to fight each other with fists and kicks. The fight often leads to bleeding and group brawls, and the indigenous people believe that this ritual will bless their harvest. Despite local church and government efforts to ban the festival, the pressure from the indigenous people has prevented these attempts. Local police this year allowed the festival with 30 officers equipped with batons and tear gas.

Skull Festival
In a strange and unique ceremony, Bolivians bring the skulls of deceased loved ones or unknown individuals to the La Paz cemetery church to ask for health, wealth, love, and other attainable and unattainable wishes. The Catholic Church does not officially approve of the skull festival but does not prevent it from taking place. The ceremony is held one week after the anniversary of the death, blending Catholic and indigenous beliefs. The skulls are brought to the church in wooden or glass boxes, often adorned with crowns of flowers and plants. Some skulls are even decorated with sunglasses or have cigarettes placed in their mouths.

Women's Hair-Pulling Festival
Bolivian culture has had a significant impact on religion, music, and the clothing of the Aymara and Inca peoples. One of the most famous festivals in Bolivia is the "Carnaval de Oruro," which features football as a national sport and small football games played in the streets by both children and adults. One of the strange festivals held annually in Bolivia is the Women's Hair-Pulling Festival. In this sporting event, women must pull each other's hair to move them from one place to another, while the other participant tries to resist and remain in place without moving!

Mother Earth Festival
During the "Mother Earth" festival, participants offer gifts to the goddess of the Earth and fertility, known as "Sullu." The indigenous people believe that in August, the Earth goddess opens her mouth to receive offerings, and therefore they present various gifts such as live animals, sheep fetuses, cocoa leaves, and sweets. Strange rituals are performed during this festival, and it is even rumored that humans may be sacrificed in some cases.

Itu Festival
The Oruro Carnival is a religious festival that dates back over 200 years and is held in Oruro, Bolivia. It is one of UNESCO’s masterpieces of intangible cultural heritage. Initially an indigenous festival, it was later modified to include a Christian ceremony centered around the Virgin. The traditional Llama or Diablada dance became the leading dance of the festival. During the festival, more than 48 groups of local dancers specializing in 18 different folk dances perform in a traditional parade on every Saturday of the carnival. The Itu ritual was banned by the Spanish in the 17th century but continued to be performed as a Catholic ceremony related to candles.

Final Word
Bolivian culture has a profound impact on the religion, music, and clothing of the Aymara and Inca peoples. Bolivia is one of the least developed countries in South America, with about two-thirds of the population, mostly farmers, living in poverty.