The Ministry of Culture participated on March 18 in celebrations for the fourth anniversary of the National Day of the Torito de Pucará, an event that highlights this emblematic ceramic figure from Puno, considered a symbol of protection, fertility, and prosperity in Andean culture.
The event took place in the district of Pucará, province of Lampa. Pablo Molina Palomino, director of Intangible Heritage at the Ministry of Culture, said the date is important for strengthening cultural identity and valuing local ceramic traditions. Edmundo Cordero Maldonado, director of the Decentralized Directorate of Culture (DDC) Puno, was also present.
As part of the commemorative activities, organizers held the First Grand Contest of Indigenous Dances at the archaeological complex in Pucará. More than 30 groups performed traditional dances such as Nicasio’s carnival, Capachica’s q’aswa, Culta’s alpaca herders’ dance, and Moho’s jikatasiris. The public enjoyed these representative expressions from across the region.
An artisan fair was also held where master ceramists exhibited and sold Toritos de Pucará and other traditional pieces. This promoted both local economic activity and continuity for this ancestral practice.
The Torito de Pucará is a ceramic figure deeply rooted in Andean worldview. Today these figures are placed on rooftops as amulets for protection and good fortune—a tradition passed down through generations.
Law No. 31492 declares March 18 as National Day of the Torito de Pucará to recognize its value as a sociocultural expression and to promote appreciation, preservation, and dissemination of related ancestral knowledge.
