>>212818253This was especially true back then, as part of the andean New Year marked by the return of the Pleiades. Cusco's most remote nation, the Q’ero, would split their group in two: one half heading to a sacred spring in the lower jungle (hurin).
The other to the heights of Ccolquepunco during Qoyllur Rit’i (hanan), to seek healing powers in the frozen waters and search for the Snow Star (Qoyllur Rit’i), believed to be locked deep within the mountain.
After everyone else leaves, the Q’ero come down to the sanctuary and celebrate for two more days. They wait for the priest to leave, because “they don’t believe in the Lord of the Church, only in the Lord of the Snow”