Photos of Bolivians ushering in the Andean New Year 5533 with sunrise celebrations
Aymara Indigenous people hold up their hands to receive the first rays of sunlight in celebration of the Andean New Year 5533 marking the Southern Hemisphere’s winter solstice, in El Alto, Bolivia, Saturday, June 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)
EL ALTO, Bolivia (AP) — Bolivians gathered in the mountains and city viewpoints to celebrate the Andean New Year, a tradition rooted in pre-Hispanic culture and aligned with the southern hemisphere’s winter solstice.
The festival involves offerings to Pachamama (Mother Earth) and welcoming the sun’s first rays to receive new energy and mark the start of the agricultural calendar.
___
Indigenous people gather to celebrate the Andean New Year 5533 marking the Southern Hemisphere’s winter solstice, in El Alto, Bolivia, Saturday, June 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)
Indigenous people gather to celebrate the Andean New Year 5533 marking the Southern Hemisphere’s winter solstice, in El Alto, Bolivia, Saturday, June 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)
An Andean religious leader sprinkles liquor into a bonfire during the Andean New Year of 5,533 celebration in El Alto, Bolivia, Saturday, June 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)
An Andean religious leader sprinkles liquor into a bonfire during the Andean New Year of 5,533 celebration in El Alto, Bolivia, Saturday, June 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)
Aymara Indigenous people hold up their hands to receive the first rays of sunlight in celebration of the Andean New Year 5533 marking the Southern Hemisphere’s winter solstice, in El Alto, Bolivia, Saturday, June 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)
Aymara Indigenous people hold up their hands to receive the first rays of sunlight in celebration of the Andean New Year 5533 marking the Southern Hemisphere’s winter solstice, in El Alto, Bolivia, Saturday, June 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)
An Andean spiritual leader attends the celebration of the Andean New Year 5533 marking the Southern Hemisphere’s winter solstice, in El Alto, Bolivia, Saturday, June 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)
An Andean spiritual leader attends the celebration of the Andean New Year 5533 marking the Southern Hemisphere’s winter solstice, in El Alto, Bolivia, Saturday, June 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)
Indigenous people celebrate the Andean New Year 5533 marking the Southern Hemisphere’s winter solstice, in El Alto, Bolivia, Saturday, June 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)
Indigenous people celebrate the Andean New Year 5533 marking the Southern Hemisphere’s winter solstice, in El Alto, Bolivia, Saturday, June 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)
A woman sprinkles liquor on a bonfire of offerings during a celebration of the Andean New Year 5533 marking the Southern Hemisphere’s winter solstice, in El Alto, Bolivia, Saturday, June 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)
A woman sprinkles liquor on a bonfire of offerings during a celebration of the Andean New Year 5533 marking the Southern Hemisphere’s winter solstice, in El Alto, Bolivia, Saturday, June 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)
Indigenous people embrace during a celebration of the Andean New Year 5533 marking the Southern Hemisphere’s winter solstice, in El Alto, Bolivia, Saturday, June 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)
Indigenous people embrace during a celebration of the Andean New Year 5533 marking the Southern Hemisphere’s winter solstice, in El Alto, Bolivia, Saturday, June 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)
Indigenous people gather to celebrate the Andean New Year 5533 marking the Southern Hemisphere’s winter solstice, in El Alto, Bolivia, Saturday, June 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)
Indigenous people gather to celebrate the Andean New Year 5533 marking the Southern Hemisphere’s winter solstice, in El Alto, Bolivia, Saturday, June 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)
An Aymara woman is silhouetted against a rising sun during a celebration of the Andean New Year 5533 marking the Southern Hemisphere’s winter solstice, in El Alto, Bolivia, Saturday, June 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)
An Aymara woman is silhouetted against a rising sun during a celebration of the Andean New Year 5533 marking the Southern Hemisphere’s winter solstice, in El Alto, Bolivia, Saturday, June 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)
This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.