Enjoying Bolivia 151Give a T’inku crowd the opportunity to observe British
hooligans at a football match, or East Los Angeles street
gangs in warfare. The T’inku is a once-a-year event, a
chance for releasing profound historical and economic
frustrations which date back to the Spanish colonisation
of the Andean indigenous peoples.
During The Festival of the Cross, the faint
hearted should opt for other villages, where old men
(Awki-Awkis) perform a comical dance that satirises
aristocratic gentlemen.
26 May—Espíritu Santo or Pentecost. Combines the Holy
Spirit with the Pachamama (Mother Earth God). In mining
communities and agricultural villages, magical plants
adorn houses and llamas are sacrifi ced. Not recommended
for animal rights activists.
27 May—Heroínas de la Coronilla, also Mother’s Day.
In remembrance of the women who fought to protect
Cochabamba from the Spanish.
June
2 June—Santísima Trinidad. The most important festival
of the Beni, with dancing dogs, pigs, tigers, bullfi ghts and
games.
2 June—Gran Poder (Great Power). La Paz’s greatest
party, with more than 60 dance groups, including dances
such as La Diablada and La Morenada. Resembles the
Carnaval entrada.
24 June—Día de San Juan. The Pachamama receives yet
more offerings in rural Altiplano, this time in hopes that
she will provide fertile soils. In Tarija, bonfi res and water
games. In Santa Cruz, a mass, and lots of drinking. In the
Beni, a walk over hot coals. Everywhere, fi reworks.
29 June—San Pedro and San Pablo. Cleverly scheduled to
unload the fi reworks left over from Día de San Juan.
July
16 July—Fiesta de Nuestra Señora del Carmen. In La Paz,
the religious celebration is combined with a culture and
tourism fair. In Los Yungas, there is a macabre medieval