Bolivia dedicates a space to Ekeko, the Andean deity of abundance

The Ekeko, the Andean deity of abundance and soul of the Bolivian festival of Alasita, declared World Heritagehas from this Friday an exclusive space in Peace in which various manifestations and the evolution of miniature desires are exhibited.

The state cable company “My Cable Car” inaugurated the “House of the Ekeko” in a house from the beginning of the 19th century, located in the old complex of the former La Paz Railway Station, now converted into a cultural park, and which formerly served as a hostel for the families of railway managers.

In these environments, small rooms were set up that show the different expressions of the Alasita fair or miniature dreams, which in Aymara means buy me, with tiny handicrafts donated by former collectors, workers of the state company and made by prison inmates.

It even highlights a room “living” in which two amautas or Andean wise men, a man and a woman, are in their typical costumes as well as a brazier and incense that traditionally serves for a ritual to perform a kind of blessing on the miniature items that each person acquires on January 24.

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ORIGINS AND CHANGES

In statements to EFE, the cultural manager and manager of the Park of Cultures, Andrea Pericón, mentioned that the Alasita dates back to the pre-Hispanic rite of the illas and ispallas, wishes embodied in an object, and the devotion to the Ekeko, whose origin is in the colony, and that they were separate aspects.

Pre-Columbian cultures molded their desires (ispallas), frequently figures of cattle or small houses, in clay so that later on the summer solstice, which in the southern hemisphere occurs on December 21, they place these figures “with the first rays of sun” so that they come true, said Pericón.

With the passage of time and the arrival of the Catholic Church, the “syncretism” between the local custom with Christmas, mentioned the expert.

However, it is at the end of the 18th century when the figure of Ekeko emerges, a short man with a thin mustache who, according to the stories, began distributing food during an indigenous siege of La Paz that caused shortages, and whom many associated with the old illa. Tunupa, the deity of abundance.

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Pericón said that with the passage of time the request for abundance related to food and the home was transformed with the new “social constructions” with desires for other material goods.

Currently it is common to ask the Ekeko or the Alasita festivity for professional titles, vehicles and houses, even a couple, represented in miniatures of roosters or hens that are given as gifts to those who want to seal a stable union.

Tradition says that if this act is carried out with a lot of faith, it is very possible that the wish will come true.

Despite the fact that the rites of the miniatures and the devotion to the Ekeko were separated, the latter was attributed the “power of a god” who should be paid attention to, how to talk or “invite” a cigarette so that “in reciprocity bestow abundance”Pericón said.

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At the Alasita exhibition at the “House of the Ekeko” They just highlight a statuette of the deity of abundance that belongs to a family of merchants and that is called Martín, which must be returned to its owners before January 24 so that they can carry out the necessary rituals.

The Alasita festivity is celebrated in La Paz on January 24 under the belief that if the miniatures representing personal wishes are bought with faith during that noon, they will finally be fulfilled during the year.

This celebration has spread to the different neighborhoods of La Paz, mainly in the vicinity of Catholic churches, where believers attend for the blessing of their miniatures, without this excluding appearing before an amauta who will also pray for the fulfillment of those wishes.

Source: EFE