The Yuanyang Dai Water Splashing Festival, in the eyes of the Dai people, is a symbol of holiness, beauty, and brightness. Water is essential for the growth of all things; it is the spirit of life. As the Water Splashing Festival approaches, the Dai families become busy with activities such as slaughtering pigs and chickens, brewing wine, and making many “haoniuosuo” (rice cakes) along with various types of rice dumplings made from glutinous rice to be eaten during the festival.
The Yuanyang Dai Water Splashing Festival takes place on April 12th of the Gregorian calendar, in Nansha Town.
During the event, visitors enjoy ethnic songs and dances, as well as participate in the water-splashing festivities.
Every year on April 12th, the Dai “Water Splashing Festival” is a grand celebration in Yuanyang. In the Dai language, it is called “Lenghe Shanghan,” which translates to “June New Year” or “Dai Lunar New Year.” In fact, the Water Splashing Festival is the Dai New Year, as the Dai lunar calendar starts its new year in June.
As for the origin of the Water Splashing Festival, there is a popular legend: a long time ago, a ruthless demon king occupied the beautiful and rich Xishuangbanna and abducted seven beautiful girls to be his wives. The girls, filled with hatred, plotted to kill the demon king. One night, the youngest girl, Nongxiang, used the best food and wine to get the king drunk, making him reveal his fatal weakness. It turned out that this fearless king was afraid of being strangled by his own hair. The clever girl carefully plucked a red hair from the demon king’s head and used it to strangle his neck. Indeed, the king’s head fell off, turning into a fireball that spread evil flames wherever it rolled. The bamboo houses were burned down, and the crops were scorched. To extinguish the malevolent fire, the girl held the demon king’s head while the other six girls took turns splashing water onto it, finally putting out the evil fire in the sixth month of the Dai calendar. The villagers then began to live a peaceful and prosperous life. From then on, the custom of splashing water during the New Year was established. Now, the tradition of splashing water has become a way for people to express blessings to each other.
At the beginning of the water splashing, polite Dai girls sprinkle water on each other using bamboo leaves and branches dipped in water from a basin while saying blessing words. As the event reaches its peak, people use washbasins and even buckets to hold water, having fun and chasing each other in the streets and alleys. They splash water freely, getting soaked from head to toe, yet everyone is in high spirits, filled with laughter and joy everywhere. After this water cleansing ceremony, people form a circle and dance gracefully accompanied by the sounds of gongs and elephant foot drums, regardless of ethnicity, age, or occupation. During moments of excitement, people cheer “Water, Water, Water!” Some men drink and dance, lost in ecstasy from dusk until dawn.
Chinese Name:哈尼族打磨秋
English Name: Damoqiu Trapeze of Hani Ethnic Minority
Kuzhazha Festival is held in Gewu Village of Leyu Town in Honghe County, Honghe Prefecture.
The Moqiu Festival of the Honghe Hani people, also known as “Kuzhazha,” is the Hani ethnic group’s traditional festival second only to the October Year Festival. It is a celebration combining the local realities of the Hani people, held after the completion of farming activities to celebrate the successful harvest, pray for peace and auspiciousness, and wish for an abundance of crops.
Honghe County is located in Honghe Prefecture, Yunnan Province, and is known as a “Hometown of Overseas Chinese.” It is a popular tourist destination in Yunnan, renowned for its spectacular Hani terraced fields, unique ethnic customs, and rich folk culture. The Moqiu Festival of the Honghe Hani people, also known as “Kuzhazha,” is the Hani ethnic group’s traditional festival second only to the October Year Festival. It is a time for the Hani people to celebrate the successful conclusion of farming activities, pray for peace and good fortune, and hope for an abundant harvest.
During the festival, a grand welcoming event will take place in the ancient city of Mabang in Honghe County. Visitors can enjoy tasting Hani specialties at the long street banquet while watching traditional song and dance performances. They will also have the opportunity to participate in a lively bonfire party. At the renowned Samaba Terraced Fields scenic area, which is known as the “World’s First” rice terrace, visitors can take part in and watch the most distinctive grinding autumn competitions of the Hani people.
Since Honghe County successfully hosted the first “Samaba Cup” bicycle race and Hani Moqiu Cultural Tourism Festival in 2013, this year marks the third edition of the event. It is reported that this year’s activities incorporate traditional Hani songs and dances, vividly showcasing the unique ethnic charm. The festival blends the magnificent natural scenery of Honghe, the traditional dietary culture of the Hani people, and their traditional celebrations to offer a memorable “May Day” journey for tourists and racers in Honghe.
Plan your Honghe Ethnic Villages Tour to Honghe? Visit Gewu Village of Leyu Town in Honghe County, Honghe which is one of the most fascinating ethnic villages in Honghe. Explore the local folk ethnic culture including History, Food and Dining, Clothing, Customs and Traditions, Architecture, Festivals, Crafts, Religion, Language of local ethnic people in Gewu Village of Leyu Town in Honghe County, Honghe.
Chinese Name: 红河县乐育镇然仁村委会格伍村
English Name: Gewu Village of Leyu Town in Honghe County, Honghe Prefecture
Kuzhazha Festival is held in Gewu Village of Leyu Town in Honghe County, Honghe Prefecture.
Plan your Honghe Ethnic Villages Tour to Honghe? Visit Chegu Village of Chegu Town in Honghe County, Honghe which is one of the most fascinating ethnic villages in Honghe. Explore the local folk ethnic culture including History, Food and Dining, Clothing, Customs and Traditions, Architecture, Festivals, Crafts, Religion, Language of local ethnic people in Chegu Village of Chegu Town in Honghe County, Honghe.
Chinese Name: 红河县车古乡车古村
English Name: Chegu Village of Chegu Town in Honghe County, Honghe Prefecture
Torch Festival of Yi Ethnic Minority is held in Chegu Village of Chegu Town in Honghe County.
Torch Festival of Yi Ethnic Minority is held in Chegu Village of Chegu Town in Honghe County. The Torch Festival is one of the most significant and vibrant traditional festivals celebrated by the Yi ethnic minority in Honghe County, Honghe Prefecture, Yunnan Province. This festival typically takes place in the summer, often coinciding with the lunar calendar’s sixth month. It is a time for Yi communities to celebrate their culture, honor their ancestors, and strengthen social ties.
The Torch Festival is marked by a variety of lively and colorful activities, including:
“Kaiyangmen(开秧门)” is called “Kawopan(卡沃盘)” in the Hani language. Here, “Ka(卡)” means the five grains, “Wo(沃)” means door, and “pan(盘)” means open. This is a traditional and ancient ceremony for Hani villages to welcome the planting season. Before transplanting rice seedlings, the Hani people hold a grand “kaiyangmen(开秧门)” (Opening of the Seedling Door) ceremony in the fields, praying for a bountiful harvest in autumn.This festival embodies the Hani people’s rich traditions and their deep connection to agriculture, particularly rice farming, which is central to their livelihood.
The “Open Seedling Door” ceremony is presided over by a “pima(批玛)” (ritual master) and the Hani elders of the village. As the horn sounds, the Hani elders present steamed yellow glutinous rice and red eggs, and sacrifice a chicken to honor their ancestors and the gods of the land. The ritual master recites prayers to convey the agricultural intentions to the Hani ancestors and the gods of the land, praying for favorable weather, abundant crops, and prosperous livestock. The activities include driving oxen to plow the fields, pulling seedlings, and planting rice seedlings, symbolizing the sowing of happiness and good fortune. Additionally, there are activities like catching fish and collecting eggs, allowing people to personally experience the interesting folk culture of the Hani people.
Chinese Name: 红河县哈尼族长街宴/十月年/美首扎勒特/米索扎
English Name: Long Street Banquet of Hani Ethnic Minority and Shiyuenian Festival in Honghe County, Honghe Prefecture
Location:红河县甲寅、宝华、乐育三个乡镇
The Long Street Feast is a traditional custom of the Hani people, celebrated during the October New Year. According to the Hani calendar, this festival marks the beginning of the New Year, equivalent to the Han Chinese Spring Festival. Known as “Gantan Tongtong” or “Zelasheshi,” this grand festival involves opening the “New Year doors” on the fifth day, symbolizing the transition from old to new. Families prepare an array of dishes from their yearly harvest, creating a long feast at the village gate that allows the entire community and visiting guests to partake.
Community Feast:
Traditional Cuisine:
Rituals and Blessings:
Cultural Performances:
Social Gathering:
Guest Participation:
Harvest Celebration:
Traditional Ceremonies:
Cultural Heritage Events:
Colorful Festivities:
Family and Community Bonding:
Nature Connection:
The “Angma Tu” Festival, held in early December (approximately the 10th day of the lunar October), is the largest and most significant festival for the agricultural Hani people. This three-day event involves worshipping the village guardian, “Angma,” and praying for rain and prosperity. On the first day, a ceremony and sealing ritual are held to welcome the guardian into the village. The second day features the Long Street Feast, a lavish banquet stretching over 700 meters (also called the Long Dragon Feast or Central Street Feast), where men, women, and children celebrate in traditional attire. The final day includes continued celebrations with music, dancing, and a focus on unity and gratitude.
During the Long Street Feast, villagers gather at long tables set up along the street, creating a festive and lively atmosphere with gongs and drums. The dragon leader presides over the event, tasting dishes from each household before mixing them together, symbolizing village unity. Participants start the feast by picking dragon pig meat from the center of the table, representing the dragon entering their hearts. Visitors are warmly welcomed, and the feast includes food, drink, and mutual blessings. The festival features traditional music and dance, enhancing the joyous and communal spirit.
The Long Street Feast reflects the Hani people’s traditional unity and cultural richness. Since 2004, the festival has been recognized by Guinness World Records as “the longest banquet in the world,” with the 2010 event setting a new record with 3,050 tables stretching over 4,000 meters and over 10,000 participants. Notably, on November 2, 2008, the feast was celebrated in downtown Lincang County with provincial leaders and guests, despite the rain, showcasing the festive spirit. On November 13, 2015, the “Zhalete” festival saw thousands of Hani people creating a kilometer-long street banquet, further highlighting the festival’s grandeur and cultural significance.
The Long Street Feast is a vibrant celebration of Hani culture, blending traditional cuisine, rituals, and community spirit. It highlights the Hani people’s dedication to their heritage, showcasing their unique customs and fostering a sense of unity and joy among participants and visitors alike.
Chinese Name: 金平县标水岩民俗文化村哈尼族祭龙之长街宴
English Name: Long Street Banquet of Hani Ethnic People in Jinping County, Honghe
Location: 红河州金平县标水岩民俗文化村
Long Street Banquet of Hani Ethnic People is held in Biaoshuiyan Village of Maandi Town.
http://www.hh.cn/sx_01/jp/08/201703/t20170313_1239823.html
Plan your Honghe Ethnic Villages Tour to Honghe? Visit Daduma Village of Dazhai Town in Jinping County, Honghe which is one of the most fascinating ethnic villages in Honghe. Explore the local folk ethnic culture including History, Food and Dining, Clothing, Customs and Traditions, Architecture, Festivals, Crafts, Religion, Language of local ethnic people in Daduma Village of Dazhai Town in Jinping County, Honghe.
Chinese Name: 金平苗族瑶族傣族自治县大寨乡大都马村
English Name: Daduma Village of Dazhai Town in Jinping County, Honghe
http://www.hh.cn/sx_01/jp/08/201512/t20151217_1185738.html
Plan your Honghe Ethnic Villages Tour to Honghe? Visit Guangji Yao Ethnic Village in Jinping County, Honghe which is one of the most fascinating ethnic villages in Honghe. Explore the local folk ethnic culture including History, Food and Dining, Clothing, Customs and Traditions, Architecture, Festivals, Crafts, Religion, Language of local ethnic people in Guangji Yao Ethnic Village in Jinping County, Honghe.
Chinese Name:金平县哀牢山广吉瑶族村
English Name:Guangji Yao Ethnic Village in Jinping County, Honghe
http://www.luliangren.com/thread-26747-1.html
http://www.luliangren.com/thread-26748-1.html
AngMaTu (Dragon Worship) Festival in Jinping County is held in Dalaotang Village of Jinhe Town.
The Hani Ethnic Group’s Angma Tu Festival is the grandest festival of the Hani people, held annually before the spring plowing begins (usually in mid-January). It is a sacrificial event that prays for favorable weather, abundant harvests, and the safety of people and livestock in the coming year. With the progression of time, this activity has evolved into the most significant festival of the Hani people.
The “Angma Tu” festival is generally held for 3 to 5 days. During the event, the passionate and lively Hani people, young and old, gather in circles to joyfully dance and sing about their beautiful lives. There can be more than 300 tables set up for street banquets, stretching for hundreds of meters, which is why it’s also called the Long Dragon Banquet. At the banquet, the village’s respected elderly men sit at the front, while women sit at the back, and the rest of the people sit in the middle. The entire village drinks homemade rice wine and enjoys dishes carefully prepared by each household. The atmosphere is not only a competition in culinary skills, full of warmth and community spirit, but it also showcases the unity of the Hani people. If you happen to be here during this time, the hospitable Hani people will warmly invite you to sit and share in their wonderful life together.
Every year, on the 1st day of the 12th lunar month (around October 10 in the Gregorian calendar), is the Spring Festival for the Haniz ethnic group in Habao Village, Ezhai Township, Yuanyang County—known as the Angma Tu Festival. This festival is a time for the Hani people to worship the village god and pray to the dragon for rain. On the eve of the festival, the village head sets up an altar in the central Dragon Forest at the entrance of the village, where a dragon pig without mixed colors is slaughtered to invite the dragon to celebrate with everyone. After the prayers, the head of the village cuts the dragon pig meat into as many pieces as there are households in the village and distributes it for everyone to enjoy.
The Long Street Ancient Banquet, as a tradition of the Hani “October Year,” is a feast of blessings. Thus, people of different skin colors and from different countries come with good wishes, like pilgrims, to participate in the annual Long Street Ancient Banquet, enjoying the “blessed” foods that symbolize health and longevity. People request a sip of holy water from the “divine seat” of Migu, holding chopsticks in hand, and they eat from the ‘dragon head’ to the ‘dragon tail’ along the street, wishing one another good fortune, prosperity, peace, and happiness.
On the second day of the Angma Tu Festival, every family prepares nearly 40 varieties of traditional Hani dishes, including yellow glutinous rice, three-color eggs, pork, chicken, fish, duck meat, beef jerky, goat jerky, shredded meat, and peanuts, along with wine, and sets up their tables in the designated street area—each family having one or two tables. The tables line up along the street, creating a banquet that stretches over 700 meters, known locally as the Long Dragon Banquet or Street Center Feast, which is the longest banquet in China.
During the banquet setting, the sound of gongs and drums fills the air, creating a lively atmosphere. Men, women, and children dress in festive attire, bringing their daughters and helping the elderly, gathering from all directions to take their seats. When entering, the host (the village head) sits in the main seat, while others voluntarily arrange themselves around the long table based on gender, age, and interests. When dishes from each household are brought to the table, they are first presented to the village head for tasting, accepting his genuine toast. The village head takes portions from each dish and mixes them together before distributing them to others; this mixed dish symbolizes the unity of the village in worshiping the gods and welcoming the dragon together for the festival.
As the Long Street Banquet begins, the village head leads everyone in raising their glasses in a toast for favorable weather in the coming year. All participants take their first bite of the dragon pig meat cut into small pieces by each household sitting at the central table, indicating that the dragon has entered their hearts, after which they eat other dishes. If tourists happen to encounter the Long Street Banquet, people will readily give up their seats and welcome you to join. Each year, around 4,000 people participate in the Long Street Banquet, with hosts and guests dining, drinking, and exchanging blessings joyfully. During the banquet, elders take advantage of the joyful atmosphere to pull out various musical instruments to sing and dance. After eating and drinking, young men and women may venture into the bamboo forest to express love and affection. The festivities last until 5 PM, when the village head beats the drum, parading under the dragon tree, as everyone claps their hands to send the dragon home. At night, as the banquet winds down, young men and women sing and dance, engaging in romance, continuing throughout the night. Such activities occur for three days and nights.
The Angma Tu Festival reveals the Hani people’s understanding of water and their worship of the dragon within their agricultural culture, while also reflecting the hardworking, simple, and mutually supportive traditional virtues of the Hani people.
Overview Chinese Name: 元阳县傣族泼水节 English Name: Water Splashing Festival of Dai Ethnic Minority in Yuanyang County, Honghe Location: Nansha Town of Yuanyang County, Honghe Date: 12th, April The Yuanyang...
Chinese Name:哈尼族打磨秋 English Name: Damoqiu Trapeze of Hani Ethnic Minority...
Basic Introduction Chinese Name: 红河县哈尼族苦扎扎节/磨秋节/磨秋文化旅游节 English Name: Kuzhazha Festival of Hani Ethnic Minority in Honghe County, Honghe Prefecture Location: Gewu Village of Leyu Town in Honghe County, Honghe Prefecture Kuzhazha...
Plan your Honghe Ethnic Villages Tour to Honghe? Visit Gewu Village of Leyu Town in Honghe County, Honghe which is one of the most fascinating ethnic villages in Honghe....
Plan your Honghe Ethnic Villages Tour to Honghe? Visit Chegu Village of Chegu Town in Honghe County, Honghe which is one of the most fascinating ethnic villages in Honghe....
Overview Chinese Name: 红河县车古乡欢庆彝族火把节 English Name: Torch Festival of Yi Ethnic Minority in Honghe County, Honghe Prefecture Location: Chegu Village of Chegu Town in Honghe County, Honghe Prefecture Torch...
Basic Introduction Chinese Name: 红河县哈尼族开秧门 English Name: Kaiyangmen Festival of Hani Ethnic Minority in Honghe County, Honghe Prefecture Location: 红河县阿扎河乡普春村委会切龙中寨/Qielong Central Village Committee, Puchun Village, Azhahe Township, Honghe C...
Chinese Name: 红河县哈尼族长街宴/十月年/美首扎勒特/米索扎 English Name: Long Street Banquet of Hani Ethnic Minority and Shiyuenian Festival in Honghe County, Honghe Prefecture Location:红河县甲寅、宝华、乐育三个乡镇 Origin of the Festival The Long Street Feast is...
Chinese Name: 金平县标水岩民俗文化村哈尼族祭龙之长街宴 English Name: Long Street Banquet of Hani Ethnic People in Jinping County, Honghe Location: 红河州金平县标水岩民俗文化村 Long Street Banquet of Hani Ethnic People is held in Biaoshuiyan Village...
Plan your Honghe Ethnic Villages Tour to Honghe? Visit Daduma Village of Dazhai Town in Jinping County, Honghe which is one of the most fascinating ethnic villages in Honghe....
Plan your Honghe Ethnic Villages Tour to Honghe? Visit Guangji Yao Ethnic Village in Jinping County, Honghe which is one of the most fascinating ethnic villages in Honghe. Explore...
Overview Chinese Name: 金平县哈尼族昂玛突节 English Name: AngMaTu (Dragon Worship) Festival of Hani Ethnic Minority in Jinping County, Honghe Location: Dalaotang Village of Jinhe Town in Jinping County, Honghe AngMaTu (Dragon...
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