“Wawa Pampay”: Andean Ritual for the Emotional Transformation of Grief in an Andean Community

Gutiérrez-Gómez E.; Tristan-Quispe Y.M.; González-Ríos R.C.; Munaris-Parco S.B.; Andía-Ayme V.; Peña-Rojas G. · Religions (2025) · DOI: 10.3390/rel16111462

Resumen

The “Wawa Pampay” is an Andean funeral ritual that allows Quechua-speaking communities to collectively process grief over the death of a child, integrating ancestral beliefs and symbolic practices that have been passed down over generations. This study aimed to understand the cultural and emotional significance of this ritual, as well as to document its symbolic elements in light of the risk of its disappearance due to sociocultural changes. A qualitative approach integrating ethnographic methodology was used, combining participant observation, in-depth interviews in the Quechua language, and photographic and audiovisual recording, while always respecting the beliefs and privacy of the participants. The fieldwork was carried out in a rural community in the Peruvian Andes, with extended visits and cohabitation with the families. The findings show that the “Wawa Pampay” not only bids farewell to the deceased child but also reaffirms social cohesion and strengthens collective memory. Its preservation is key to keeping local cultural identity alive.

Instituciones: Universidad Nacional de San Cristóbal de Huamanga; Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Huanta