LA PAZ, Bolivia. Hundreds of Bolivians gathered at La Paz’s municipal cemetery on Friday, bringing human skulls adorned with flowers, hats, and sunglasses to honor them in the traditional Ñatitas festival. This unique custom, deeply rooted in Andean culture, involves devotees requesting blessings of health, wealth, love, and other personal favors from the skulls, known as “Ñatitas.” Despite its cultural significance, the practice is not officially recognized by the Catholic Church.
One prominent Ñatita, known as “Mama Azapa,” stands out with her braided hair and serves as a spiritual protector for many. “She is my protector,” shared Elena Martínez, a self-identified “amauta,” or Quechua priestess. During the festival, Martínez and other devotees showered the skulls with coca leaves, flowers, and even placed cigarettes in their mouths as offerings. The skulls, each uniquely decorated, are kept in elaborate containers ranging from golden glass urns to decorated shoeboxes.
The Ñatitas festival is a fusion of Andean ancestral worship and Catholic beliefs, a blend reflecting Bolivia’s cultural heritage. According to anthropologist Milton Eyzaguirre of the National Museum of Ethnography and Folklore, Andean culture links death to the cyclical nature of life. “The deceased are underground, in the earth, that is why they are related to plants that are about to be born,” he explained, emphasizing the traditional view of death as a symbol of rebirth.
The annual celebration, while unusual to outsiders, highlights the Andean region’s unique approach to spirituality, life, and the afterlife, offering a glimpse into Bolivia’s rich cultural practices.
Paraluman P. Funtanilla
Paraluman P. Funtanilla is Tutubi News Magazine's Marketing Specialist and is a Contributing Editor. She finished her degree in Communication Arts in De La Salle Lipa. She has worked as a Digital Marketer for start-up businesses and small business spaces for the past two years. She has earned certificates from Coursera on Brand Management: Aligning Business Brand and Behavior and Viral Marketing and How to Craft Contagious Content. She also worked with Asia Express Romania TV Show.
