Peruvians seek health at new year Wishing Fair

Peruvians on Thursday flocked to the annual Fair of the Wishes, where they try to boost their chances of attaining their dreams in the new year.

Since 1999, the Fair of the Wishes has brought the mystic traditions of Peru''s indigenous people to the capital. Wishes for good health and a better 2022 have particular meaning at the end of a year that was partly dominated by the pandemic and brought hardship for many.

Fairgoers can have their fortunes read by Andean shamans or participate in cleansing and other rituals to improve their chances of success. The fair brings to Lima rituals that the people of the Altiplano region have practised for hundreds of years.

They include the festival of miniatures, where a hopeful customer buys a tiny replica of the object of their desires - whether it's money, a home or car. Residents also perform ritual cleansings, which include bathing in incense smoke and a shower of flower petals.