With rattles and smoke, Peru shamans predict election outcome

Peruvian shamans destroy campaign posters for presidential candidate Keiko Fujimori during a traditional ritual that predicted Fujimori's loss to Pedro Castillo in a run-off vote for the Peruvian presidency on June 6, in Lima, Peru, May 26, 2021. REUTERS/Angela Ponce

LIMA (Reuters) - Peruvian shamans, with rattles, smoke and pictures of the Andean country's two presidential candidates, are trying to read the tea leaves ahead of a polarized run-off election on June 6 with polls showing what could be a tight contest.

On a stony hillside in Lima, shamans burned incense and played musical instruments in colorful, traditional outfits to predict the winner from between socialist front-runner Pedro Castillo and conservative Keiko Fujimori.