Sanduo Festival Day
There is a Naxi traditional festival in Lijiang, Yunnan. It is Sanduo festival holds on the 8th Feb in lunar month every year.
Local people says: Sanduo is the soul of snow mountain in all Naxi people’s mind. Because not only he protects Lijiang area but also helped the local people, he is a national hero, so on that day, the Naxi people hold a big celebration to sacrifice him.
Legend, long times ago, he was a hunter, his name is 阿布高丁one day he went to hunt with dog in snow mountain , on his way to the snow mountain, he discovered a big stone, the stone was very nice, so he liked it very much. Finally, he decided to take it to home. When he carried the stone and got to the middle of the mountain. He felt very tired. He had a little rest, after that, he continue to go. But the stone got more and more heavy, he couldn’t move it any more, it looked growing in the mountain. When the hunter came back to his home. Telling the strange events about this stone to every body. So all of people thought that was the symbol of the snow mountain, and went to mountain to see that stone. When the local people arrived by the stone, it is very strange for them to see a man who wore white clothes, white hat, held a sword on hand and ride a white horse. It was very supernatural. He could help the Naxi people. the enemy during wars also he could forbid the flood and fire. So in yuan Dry the emperor gave statue and made temple there called Baiyuemiao.
On 8th , Feb lunar month. The naxi people will go to the temple where the sanduo is staying. Put something offering to sacrifice. Like pig, sheep, fish and so on. I remember, in most of village, the young boys and girls will have a big picnic together in the open air. At that day, in the morning, we will ready for all things that had cooked, different vegetable and fruits. Before that day, we discussed where should we go picnic or how to have a picnic, at last, we choose a good place where have water and shady place. At this place, we built cooking stove by ourselves, most times used stone to built. Another when we change good place where not in the mountain, because sometimes during that time the windy was very strong so very dangerous, so most we will change the place where not very far from our village or near the lake and clean it very cleanly. Form each family, the lunch and dinner we had cooked together and ate food together, after had lunch and washing, we began to play different games, like singing, dancing, play cards and so on. I think it is very interesting. It is a good festival for us. Baishuitai is located samba county of shangri—la, baishuitai was souse land of dongba religion.
Legend, the baishuitai was built by naxi ancestor on the 8th , Feb lunar month, so this day has became a white. The naxi people days to worship god baishui. At that day, the people came from baidi village and other place came to baishuitai together. In the morning of that day, the local people will wore new clothes, took many offering and food came to baishuitai. The first, every family came to dragon pool near baishuitai held a ceremony, next began to cook used the fireplan by themselves family. After have dinner the dongba scriptures before the ceremony. This day, singing and dancing fun to became a major scenery in baishuitai, the Naxi people enjoy singing baishuitai and life.
