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Pachamama, or Mother Earth, is a protective deity venerated in northwestern Argentina. This cult of pre-Inca Andean origin coexists with the Catholic faith.
The rites take place at different times of the year, but August is the month dedicated to her, when the earth is "open" or "hungry" and it is necessary to "give her food and drink" to ensure well-being for the coming year, ward off disease and bad luck. In the "corpachada" ceremony, offerings are deposited in a hole dug in the ground. It is usually performed in the same place, reopening the hole from the previous year. Food specially prepared for those days is offered, such as tistincha (stew prepared with lamb or llama), chicha (fermented corn drink) is poured and coca leaves and cigarettes and different amulets are placed, incense is lit with herbs from the puna, accompanied with prayers and invocations.