Dehong Festivals and Events

Festivals of the Achang and Jingpo ethnic minorities are all derived from folk legends, and people sing and dance to express the origin of their cultures, to celebrate their harvest and express best wishes. Munao Songs Festival is the grandest traditional feast of Jingpo; that is usually held in the fifth day of the first lunar month, while Huijie Festival and Woluo Festival of Achang are important celebrations of Achang.

The Jingpo number about 122,000 and live almost exclusively in Dehong Prefecture at elevations of 4500 feet or higher. During the Ming Dynasty they became the most populous group in this mountain region and gained official recognition with the creation of two autonomous Jingpo districts. Today they make up almost 15% of Dehong’s population. Since they live in mountainous areas, they are often called shantou which means the top of a mountain.

The most important celebration of the Jingpo is the MunaoZongge festival from 15th to the 18th of January on the lunar calendar.

Water-Splashing Festival of Dai and De’ang Ethnic Groups in Dehong.

Water-Splashing Festival is held seven days after Tomb-sweeping Festival. It has the implications of bathing Buddha, celebrating the New Year, and praying for rainfall, good health of both people and livestock, and an abundant harvest of all food crops. In the circle of Hinayana followers, it is the grandest festival and the one with ethnic characteristics.

Traditionally, the festival lasts three days. People usually see off the past on the first day, free on the second day and ring in new days on the third day. On the eve of the festival, Dai people like to make New Year cake in the following steps. First, mix sticky rice, brown sugar, sesame seed and peanut, wrap them with plantain leaves, and then steam them.

On the first day of the festival, young people go together to mountainous area to pick up flowers amid the boisterous sound of drums and gongs. These flowers are used to decorate Buddhist temples and dragon pavilions. They can exchange New Year cakes as present, dip flower twig or tree branches in water, then spray the water toward each other for blessing. On the second day, people are well dressed after having bath. They gather together to attend the ceremony of Water-Splashing Festival by beating drums and gongs, singing and dancing. First, the Dai people pure barrels of water into the belly of the dragon statue. The water outflow through the mouth of the dragon drives waterwheel to rotate and gently spray glittering water on the Buddha statue. After the fires of solute come crescendos of music. Then, people begin to splash water toward each other for blessing.

On the third day, people go from village to village to splash water to each other. They can be watered from head to feet because they think that wetter they are, happier they are.

Water-Splashing Festival is also a traditional festival of the De’ang ethnic group. It is also held in the seven day after Tomb-sweeping Festival and lasts three days. During the festival, well dressed De’ang people draw clean water from wells and then carry the water, some food and a bunch of flower of the Buddhist temples in their villages. The ceremony of the festival is presided by a Buddhist leader of good moral standing and undisputed reputation. He will also address the crowds. Then, young man beat the “elephant-leg” drums and dance, while young women follow the drumbeats to perform “duisha dance”.

Other people will lift bamboo tube full of water above their head, then drop the water to the gutter in engraved dragon and painting Buddhist scripture to bath the Buddha statue. The move is adopted to show their gratitude toward the favors of ancestors and wish for a favorable weather in the coming year. De’ang people will rush to take the water dropping from Buddha statue. They drink the water or wash face or hand, in hope that they can keep away illness and has an auspicious experience. (Source: Tourism Bureau of Dehong Prefecture.