Maya Ch’a Cháak Ceremony: Pray for Rain at UIMQROO

José María Morelos — The Maya Intercultural University of Quintana Roo (UIMQROO) will once again serve as the setting where ancestral spirituality and cultural syncretism converge with solemnity. On June 5 and 6, beginning at 7:00 p.m., the university will host the traditional Ch’a Cháak ceremony, a Maya ritual to petition for rain, organized by the Academy of Engineering in Agroecological Production Systems.

A Living Expression of Maya Continuity

This deeply rooted pre-Hispanic ritual represents far more than a plea for water—it is a living expression of the cultural continuity of the Maya people. The sacred ceremony weaves indigenous symbols with elements of Christianity, a syncretism that has endured through time and modernity.

During the event, an altar will be constructed and covered with jabín leaves, symbolizing the forest and communal life. The altar’s legs will extend into the earth, creating a symbolic connection to the underworld. Arches will be erected at the four cardinal directions—Lak’in (east), Chik’in (west), Xamán (north), and Nohol (south)—representing the dwellings of the chaako’ob, the rain gods. A vine called beel-cháak ("the path of Cháak") will link these arches, forming a celestial vault to guide lightning and rain to their rightful destination.

A Symbolic Universe

The ceremony constructs a true imago mundi of the Maya cosmos, intertwining sky, earth, and the underworld to invoke Yuum Cháak and the other chaako’ob, who arrive from the four celestial directions under varying names depending on the community.

Beyond its ritual significance, the event stands as an act of cultural resistance, reaffirming the sacred relationship between humanity, nature, and the divine.

Open Invitation to the Community

The university community and the general public are cordially invited to participate in this spiritual moment, which offers not only a profound cultural experience but also an opportunity to reflect on humanity’s relationship with the land, water, and the enduring beliefs of Quintana Roo’s indigenous peoples.

Through this ceremony, UIMQROO reinforces its commitment to preserving Maya traditions, fostering spaces where ancestral knowledge and academia meet in the heart of the territory where this wisdom still thrives.