In the Ayacuchana tradition, when one passes away, there is a 5-day ceremony in which the family comes together to remember, forgive, and clean. We keep vigil over the body, finish conversations that we couldn’t during their lifetime, understanding that their energy is still present but will soon move on. Finally, we collectively gather by the shores of the river to play, laugh, and cry; the running water taking our pain, and the morning sun recharging us while drying our tears.

During the era of internal conflict and terrorism in Peru, many were unable to say goodbye to their relatives. In Ayacucho, many did not even know that this was happening, but the losses were felt. People died without saying goodbye to their loved ones. The souls of the deceased are present in the lands they inhabited through the burials of their bodies. This is what happened with my grandmother, who when she died, her soul went to stay in the most important tree in her town. Today in the age of COVID, we have to see high numbers of deaths per day; today, we have to call a stranger so that their body can return as ashes in a box.

Al dejar la vida en la tradición Ayacuchana podemos despedir al ser que parte durante 5 días, en los que la red familiar se anuda, recuerda, perdona y limpia. Velamos al cuerpo y las prendas, terminamos conversaciones que en vida no pudimos y sabemos que su energía está presente y que pronto marchará. Finalmente, acompañados de los compadres, recordamos las fortalezas y al borde del río agrupados en círculos jugamos, reímos y lloramos; el agua que corre se lleva la pena y el sol antes de medio día nos recarga y seca nuestras lágrimas.

Durante el terrorismo en el Perú muchos no pudieron despedirse de su sangre, en Ayacucho muchos ni se enteraban que esto pasaba, pero sentían las pérdidas. En este contexto muchas vidas fueron arrebatadas y partieron sin despedirse, sin embargo, quedaron enraizadas en sus tierras y algunas, como mi abuela, se apoderaron del árbol más importante de su pueblo.

Hoy nos toca ver cifras elevadas de muertes por día, hoy nos toca llamar a un desconocido para que el cuerpo de alguien que yace sin vida se incinere y luego regrese hecho polvo en una caja.