La “Octava de la Fiesta” is the second part of the celebration of the feast of the Virgen del Rosario, patron of Iruya department, celebrated the first and second weekend of October each year.
During the Octava, a pilgrimage takes place in the town accompanied by the music and dances of the Cachis, a group of masked and costumed people representing characters, where the presence of the "foreign" is highlighted. This mischievous and insightful, black dressed character wears a bonnet and a belt coin symbolizing money and greed, and represents the Evil.
The story goes that long ago the settlement of Iruya was 7km from where it currently exists. According to the story, neighbors suddenly found the image of the Virgen del Rosario in the bush, and returned to town.
Sometime afterwards, the image reappeared on the mountain. Taking this as a Divine sign, the image was returned this time to the town of Pampa Pantij, but soon was found again in the bush. Considering that a definite sign, the people erected the town where it is at the present.
Iruya means "face" in Aymara language and is the name given to a type of straw that grows in the area and which tradition relates is in honor to the Virgen del Rosario, so often found at the foot of the grasslands.
