acháts

Acháts (also spelled achats) refers to a traditional ceremonial practice of the Kʼin people's highland communities in the Andean region. The term originates from the Quechua verb *akha* meaning “to gather” and the suffix *‑ts* indicating a collective action. Historically, acháts were performed during seasonal festivals and agricultural rites to invoke favorable weather and protect crops from pests.

The practice involves a series of coordinated movements, chants, and the offering of symbolic objects such as maize kernels, coca leaves, and woven textiles. Participants, often organized by gender and age groups, wear distinctive embroidered garments that reflect local iconography. Musical accompaniment includes the use of panpipes, drums, and stringed instruments, creating a rhythmic pattern that guides the dance.

Anthropologists note that acháts serves both religious and social functions: it reinforces communal identity, transmits oral histories, and provides a structured setting for conflict resolution. In the late twentieth century, the practice experienced a revival as part of broader indigenous cultural preservation movements, leading to its inclusion in national heritage programs and occasional representation at international cultural exhibitions.

Contemporary scholars continue to study acháts for its insights into Andean cosmology, kinship networks, and the adaptive strategies of highland societies facing environmental and socioeconomic change.