The Katcina altars in Hopi worship

This listening experience offers a close‑up look at the Hopi’s ancient Katcina rites, a central half of their yearly religious calendar. The narrator guides you through the world of masked dancers, subterranean kivas, and the solemn priest who raises a sacred altar brimming with badges, fetishes and symbolic wooden figures. You’ll hear vivid explanations of how the Hopi, descendants of the cliff‑dwelling peoples, preserve ceremonies that blend sun, fire and ancestor worship, from the hopeful arrival of the Katcinas in early winter to their celebrated departure in midsummer.

The second half of the program turns to a comparative study of four surviving Katcina altars, drawing on detailed field notes and striking plates from early expeditions. Listeners learn the meaning behind rain‑cloud motifs, lightning symbols, maize ears and other painted elements, and discover what these complex arrangements reveal about the Hopi’s seasonal rituals. It’s an engaging glimpse into a living tradition that remains largely hidden from the outside world.