Thousands of Peruvian and foreign tourists attended Thursday the ancient Inti Raymi ceremony held at Cusco’s Sacsayhuaman Fortress in honour of the Sun God.

As every June 24, crowds of Cusco-born people and visitors took to the Andean city’s streets for the main day topping off the week-long Inti Raymi festival.

The Festival of the Sun began in front of Santo Domingo Church, built over the Koricancha temple, and then continued in a procession to the ancient fortress of Sacsayhuaman.

The 5-6 hour performance featured many brightly dressed actors and dancers who reenacted this ancient Inca ceremony, including speeches and a llama sacrifice.

In his speech at the Sacsayhuaman ceremony, the supreme ruler and semi-god known as the Inca called on Cusqueños (Cusco people) to promote cordiality and reject envy “so that the Imperial City can continue its way to development.”