Virgen de Urkupiña

The week before we left for Brazil (mid- August) was Cochabamba’s famous Fiesta de la Virgen de Urkupiña held in Quillacollo. The story is that long ago the Virgin Mary appeared several times to a shepherd girl at the foot of a hill. Later on, these visits were witnessed by the girl’s parents and other villagers; they exclaimed “There on the hill!” (In Quechua, Orkopiña) as the Virgin ascended to the sky. The villagers then discovered a stone image of the Virgin at the summit of the hill that is now kept in the church in Quillacollo.

Working in Quillacollo, I was able to see the weeks of preparation, offerings and parades leading up to the celebratory weekend. La Fiesta de la Virgen de Urkupiña is the largest annual celebration in the Cochabamba department. People from all over Bolivia, and South America come to Quillacollo to celebrate and honor la Virgen de Urkupiña, attracting up to half a million visitors. It is a tradition for many worshipers to walk from Cochabamba to Quillacollo, 13 km (8 miles), the night before the festivities begin as a sign of devotion.

Dave and I decided to take a trufi out to the crowded streets of Quillacollo one morning to check out the parades of traditional folkloric music and dancing that lasted for two days. Plazas were filled with games, food vendors, chicha, and people selling every imaginable item (similar to the Cancha).