What are the traditional festivals of the Gelao people?

A traditional festival of the Gelao people.

Also known as the "Yingxin Valley Festival", it is held every year from the 15th to the 20th of the eighth lunar month.

The Gelao people attach great importance to this festival. At that time, men, women and children will put on new clothes and gather on the most spacious terrace in the village.

Several strong men designated by the clan elders led the big bull with red flowers on its head to the venue.

At this time, the "Clan Elder", the oldest person in the village, prayed to the sky.

People played the music of "Eight Immortals", fired muskets, and lit firecrackers.

Then, the cow is killed and the heart is distributed equally to each household, and the head of each household sacrifices it in front of the ancestor's spirit to show the unity of the whole clan.

Then, under the leadership of the clan elders, everyone carried the slaughtered piglets, chickens and geese to the Bodhisattva tree to offer sacrifices to their ancestors.

After the ceremony, the whole family gathered for dinner and caroused until late at night.

The next day, each household held a family dinner.

Every household goes to the fields to collect some fresh grains, fruits and vegetables for the family feast.

After the ceremony, the women took their children and sent some fresh gifts to their relatives to express their congratulations.

The men visited each other, drank and chatted.

Young men and women still entertained themselves with singing and dancing.