The Witches' Market
The Witches' Market, also known as El Mercado de las Brujas and La Hechiceria, is a popular tourist attraction located in Cerro Cumbre, a mountain clearing in La Paz, Bolivia.[1] Merchandise sold in The Witches' Market, run by local witch doctors known as yatiri, includes potions, dried frogs, medicinal plants like retama and armadillos used in Bolivian rituals.[2] The yatiri can be easily identified by their black hats and coco pouches containing amulets, talismans and powders that ensure luck, beauty and fertility.[3] Most famous of all the items sold in The Witches' Market are the dried llama foetuses.[4] These llama foetuses are buried under the foundations of many Bolivian houses as a sacred offering to the goddess Pachamama.[5]
References
- ^ Istvan, Zoltan.Witches' Market in Bolivia Sees Brisk Sales in Spells, National Geographic, May 30, 2003
- ^ Shahriari, Sara. Bolivia's Witch Markets Offar Llama Fetuses and More, Huffington Post, March 18, 2010
- ^ Carroll, Thomas. Bolivia's Witches' Market, Travelmag, June 20, 2003
- ^ Bolivia Travel. Witches' Market, La Paz, Uyuni Tours
- ^ Anabel. Bolivia Travel Tale: Baby Llamas in The Witches' Market in La Paz, Peru For Less Travel Blog, February 3, 2012