Much less dangerous and way more fun than the ritualistic Tinku combat, Festive Tinku dancing has become a popular tradition in Bolivia. In fact, the Festive Tinku is performed during most major holidays, parades and festivals across the country.
Although women rarely fight in the ceremonial Tinku rituals, both men and women participate in Festive Tinku dancing in Bolivia. Female Tinku dancers wear long dresses with brightly-colored patterns. They also wear tall hats with long, colorful feathers and abarcas (leather sandals). Male dancers wear hats, abarcas, brightly colored pants, undershirts and intricately embroidered jackets. The male dancers’ hats are often decorated with feathers and various ornaments to represent the helmets that are worn by ritualistic Tinku fighters.
Festive Tinku music has a very loud, distinct drum beat, which helps to give the dance a combative feel. Following the heavy beat of the drum, Festive Tinku dancers often crouch down, throw their arms out and make fast kicking motions, as if they are really fighting one another. To see Festive Tinku in action, head over to our Albums section and look for the video.
The ritualistic Tinku combat tradition began long ago—as early as the 1500s, if not sooner—in the indigenous Aymara and Quechua communities to honor Pachamama (Mother Nature). These indigenous populations considered any blood that was shed during the ceremonial fighting to be a sacrifice for Pachamama.
