Preparing Dead Lamas: Bolivia's Unique Funeral Rituals

In Bolivia, dead llamas are prepared for use in witchcraft and traditional rituals. In La Paz's Witches' Market, tourists and locals alike can purchase dried llama foetuses, known as sullus, to be used as offerings to Pachamama (Mother Nature). These foetuses are believed to bring prosperity, health, and protection and are often buried under new homes or left by front doors. The practice of using llama foetuses in rituals is part of the syncretism between indigenous religions and Spanish Catholicism that has led to unique customs and strong superstitions in Bolivia.

Dried llama foetuses are sold at the Witches' Market in La Paz, Bolivia

Dried llama foetuses are sold at the Witches Market in La Paz, Bolivia, where they are considered to bring good luck and protection. The Witches Market, also known as El Mercado de las Brujas and La Hechiceria, is a popular tourist attraction located in the hilly old quarter of La Paz, specifically in Cerro Cumbre, a mountain clearing. The market is run by local witch doctors known as yatiri, who sell items used in Bolivian rituals and Andean spiritual beliefs.

The dried llama foetuses are obtained from miscarriages, which is why they come in a variety of sizes. They are used throughout the country and are buried under the foundations of new buildings as a sacred offering to Pachamama, the goddess of Mother Earth. It is believed that this practice will keep construction workers safe and bring prosperity. Wealthier Bolivians may sacrifice a living llama to Pachamama instead.

The Witches Market is located on Calle Jiminez and Linares between Sagarnaga and Santa Cruz, and it is impossible to miss. Dozens of vendors line the streets, selling a variety of strange and fascinating products, including dried frogs, soapstone figurines, aphrodisiacs, owl feathers, dried turtles and snakes, herbs, and folk remedies. The witch doctors, or yatiri, can be identified by their black hats and coca pouches containing amulets, talismans, and powders promising luck, beauty, and fertility.

The dried llama foetuses are the most prominent product in the market and are displayed in various ways, such as hanging from door openings or lying in baskets. While some may find the sight of these foetuses disturbing, they are an important part of Bolivian culture and traditions.

Locals buy them to ensure the goodwill of Mother Earth (Pachamama)

In Bolivia, locals buy dead llamas to ensure the goodwill of Mother Earth, or Pachamama, as she is known in the Andes. This practice is part of the country's syncretic religious culture, which combines indigenous beliefs with Spanish Catholicism.

In La Paz's Witches' Market, stalls are piled high with dried llama foetuses, which are known as sullus. These foetuses are naturally aborted by pregnant llamas, which are too fragile to carry a large litter. The foetuses' legs are tied together, and they are blessed by a yatiri before being sold.

Locals buy these foetuses to burn as offerings to Pachamama, bury under the foundations of new homes, or leave by their front doors. They believe that these acts will bring prosperity and health, ward off evil spirits, and rid buildings of malevolent spirits. This practice is especially common before the construction of a new house, with workmen often ensuring there is a llama foetus on-site.

The Witches' Market also sells other items to appease Pachamama, including llama wool, sweets, tinsel, incense, and alcohol.

They are burnt as offerings to Pachamama, buried under new homes, or left by a front door

In La Paz, Bolivia, the dead bodies of llamas, known as sullus, are considered lucky. They are often found in the Witches' Market, where they are sold to superstitious buyers. They are prepared in a few ways, depending on their intended use:

Offerings to Pachamama

The dead llamas can be burnt as offerings to Pachamama, also known as Mother Nature. This is done to bring prosperity and health and keep evil spirits away.

Buried Under New Homes

Before building a house, workmen often bury a dead llama on the construction site. This is done to ward off accidents and rid the building of malevolent spirits.

Left by a Front Door

The dead llamas are also believed to bring prosperity and health when left by a front door.

The use of dead llamas in these practices is rooted in the strong syncretism between indigenous religions and Spanish Catholicism in Bolivia, as well as the country's indigenous majority and the resurgence of interest in traditional beliefs.

It is believed that they bring prosperity and health, and keep evil spirits away

In Bolivia, it is believed that llama foetuses bring prosperity and health and keep evil spirits away. Llama foetuses, or sullus, are considered lucky, despite being the result of a natural abortion—llamas are known to constantly abort foetuses throughout their gestation period. The foetuses are burned as an offering to Pachamama (mother nature), buried under the foundations of houses, or left by a front door.

In La Paz's Witches' Market, llama foetuses are sold to superstitious buyers who bury them under new homes to curry favour with Pachamama. This is a continuation of the Aymara people's tradition of animal sacrifice, which has been practised for thousands of years. The Aymara also hold the Fiesta de las Ñatitas, a festival in early November where the skulls of deceased humans are decorated in the belief that their souls will provide protection and healing in return.

Llamas are important beings in Aymara mythology. The Heavenly Llama is said to drink water from the ocean and urinate as it rains. According to Aymara eschatology, llamas will return to the water springs and ponds where they came from at the end of time. Llamas are also used in ancient Aymara religious rites, where they may be sacrificed in honour of Pachamama.

The foetuses are known as sullus and receive a blessing from a yatiri before being sold

In Bolivia, the foetuses of animals, most commonly llamas, are known as sullus. They are used as offerings to the Pachamama (Mother Earth) in the Andes. The practice of using sullus is an ancient one and remains commonplace in Bolivia, particularly in the western region of the country.

Sullus are often buried under new buildings to appease the Pachamama and ward off accidents. They can be purchased at markets such as the Witches' Market in La Paz, where they are sold alongside other ritual objects, such as coca leaves, sugar figurines, cigarettes, and alcohol. The stalls are piled high with dried llama foetuses, which are one of the most common purchases.

Before being sold, the sullus receive a blessing from a yatiri, a type of witch doctor or shaman. The yatiri will perform a blessing or ritual to ensure that the sullus will be effective in their purpose of bringing goodwill and protection from the Pachamama. This may involve burning offerings over a brazier or performing other sacred ceremonies.

The use of sullus is deeply rooted in the indigenous religions and traditions of Bolivia, which have been syncretised with Spanish Catholicism, resulting in unique customs that may seem bizarre or outrageous to outsiders. While some may view the practice of using sullus as superstitious, it is an important part of the cultural and spiritual beliefs of many Bolivians, who go to great lengths to honour their traditions.

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