IN STEREO

The custom was to make offerings to the Pachamama, the sacred land. We offered her coca and wine. We got drunk and went down [the mountain] with traditional flutes, quenas, playing drums. [Everyone] went down with their own instrument. Back then, we went down with mineral. The owners forbade us, [but] I arrived quietly [and] took a little, [for] the custom, to give affection to the Pachamama. The beta [mineral veins] appeared more, and there was more production – that was the reason for this. It would have been custom since the great-great grandparents. We always saw it like that. – Don Juan

Back then, we came down from each mine with our own instruments. We were loaded with ore. The mineral was to give to the wives of those who went up the mountain. We said, “From that small mineral, more will come out.” So many people went up for carnival. There are several sections and cooperatives for the mountain. They [all] came down with dynamite from each section. Each mine came out that way with their sacred tata k’accha [crucifix], bringing out all the workers with that. One mine sang, and another, and another. They exploded dynamite in the city. It was heard in my town when I was little, and everyone said, “It’s the mining carnival!” That culture was nice. Firstly, the miner went in to ch’alla, to their place inside the mine. Then they left from there and they went down like that. Some with [traditional flutes], others with panpipes. Old instruments: quintillos, sampoñitas, charango, quena. And they went down like that, each one from their areas. And [Catholic] mass the following day, as it should be. Now, it is not like before. They are in [small] groups. – Don Lazario