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Tinku Festival, Macha, Bolivia.

Police watch over one on one fighting between rival villagers in the streets of Macha during the Tinku Festival. Macha, Bolivia, 4th May 2010, Photo Tim Clayton ...Each May, up to 3000 thousands indigenous Bolivian indians descend on the isolated mountainous village of Macha 75 miles north of Potosi in the Bolivian Andes. The 600 year old pre-hispanic Bolivia Festival of Tinku sees villagers from all over the region march into town to be pitted against each other in a toe to toe fist to fist combat.. They dance and sing in traditional costume and drink 96% proof alcohol along with chicha, a fermented beverage made from corn. Townspeople and sometimes the police oversee proceedings who often use tear gas to try and control the villages, whipped into a fighting frenzy by the dancing and alcohol, but as the fiesta goes on things often escalate beyond their control, with pitched battles between rival villages break out, The blood spilt is an offering to the earth goddess - Pachamama - to ensure a good harvest for the coming year. Over the years dozens have died, yet the rite continues.

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Filename: 100504_Clayton_Tinku_029.JPG
Copyright: Tim Clayton
Image Size: 5616x3744 / 4.8MB; Tim Clayton; Bolivia Danger Outdoors Tour Groups Photography Travel Adventure Challenge Fatal Extreme Danger Mountains Fearless Fear Notorious Tourist South America Celebration Bolivian Indigenous Culture Indian Andes Bolivian Festival Tinku Village Villagers Fist Fight Combat Death Blood Spilt Tradition Police Alcohol Tear Gas Pacha Mama Harvest Gods Rite Fighting Frenzy Corn Male Braids Brave Ancient Ritual Custom Altiplano
Contained in galleries: Tinku Festival, Macha, Bolivia

Police watch over one on one fighting between rival villagers in the streets of Macha during the Tinku Festival. Macha, Bolivia, 4th May 2010, Photo Tim Clayton ...Each May, up to 3000 thousands indigenous Bolivian indians descend on the isolated mountainous village of Macha 75 miles north of Potosi in the Bolivian Andes. The 600 year old pre-hispanic Bolivia Festival of Tinku sees villagers from all over the region march into town to be pitted against each other in a toe to toe fist to fist combat.. They dance and sing in traditional costume and drink 96% proof alcohol along with chicha, a fermented beverage made from corn. Townspeople and sometimes the police oversee proceedings who often use tear gas to try and control the villages, whipped into a fighting frenzy by the dancing and alcohol, but as the fiesta goes on things often escalate beyond their control, with pitched battles between rival villages break out, The blood spilt is an offering to the earth goddess - Pachamama - to ensure a good harvest for the coming year. Over the years dozens have died, yet the rite continues.