The vibrant Axi Fire Worship Festival recently took place on March 12 in Mile, nestled within the Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture of Yunnan Province. This esteemed event celebrates the deep-rooted reverence the Axi people hold for fire, a symbol of life and prosperity in their cultural traditions.
Held annually on the third day of the second month of the traditional Chinese calendar, the Axi Fire Worship Festival is the most solemn ritual for the Axi community. As dawn breaks, the village comes alive with young girls adorned in meticulously handmade traditional costumes, embodying the rich heritage of the Yi ethnic group. Meanwhile, families prepare boiled eggs and bake red sugar cakes, offering these delicacies to guests as a gesture of hospitality and gratitude.
The festival not only reinforces communal bonds but also serves as a vibrant display of the Axi people's unique customs and their harmonious relationship with nature. Visitors to Mile during the festival experience firsthand the blend of age-old traditions and the lively spirit that defines the region's cultural landscape.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com