The Torch Festival is an important traditional festival of the Yi people. It is usually held on the 24th day of the sixth lunar month and lasts for three days. It is divided into three stages: offering sacrifices to fire, playing with fire, and sending fire. The festival is celebrated in the Yi ethnic areas of Yunnan Province and other places in China, attracting many tourists to experience this unique cultural feast.
The Torch Festival is celebrated with a variety of activities, including dances, songs, parades, folk performances, and traditional ceremonies. During the festival, the Yi people dressed in traditional costumes, holding torches and dancing around the village or altar, dancing and singing loudly, creating a lively and cheerful atmosphere. The flame of the torches flickered in the night sky, illuminating the whole village and bringing warmth and hope to the people.
On the first day of the Torch Festival, people usually worship their ancestors and slaughter pigs and sheep. People start to build altars, light the sacred fire in a circle, and when the fire is lit, dance around the altar with the flames shining in the faces of the participants, creating a sacred and passionate atmosphere. People express their respect and prayers to the gods in the dance, praying to the gods for a good harvest and peace.
The next day is playing with fire. On this day, people gather under the altar and hold all kinds of activities. There are wrestling, singing, horse racing, and other activities. The most important of these is the beauty pageant. The elders judged the best men and women in playing with fire.
Sending fire is the most significant part of the whole torch festival, people hold a small torch, run around in a circle, and finally put the torch in their hands together to form a huge torch, and people walk around the bonfire, sing, and dance.
