A light rain fell as I fought through a sea of masked fighters for a glimpse into the center ring. From a few feet away, I watched as two local fighters struck at each other with their bare fists. Thousands of spectators stood in the stadium bleachers surrounding the fighting pit, their eyes following every move. Bleeding from his lip, the winner threw his fists in the air celebrating victory before embracing his opponent in a hug. It was Christmas Day, and high in the Peruvian Andes, the annual Andean fighting festival known as the Takanakuy was underway.

Source: New York Times August 09, 2021 09:00 UTC