Calabash Festival of Luhu Ethnic Minority in Ximeng County, Puer

Overview

  • Chinese Name: 西盟县力所乡拉祜族葫芦节
  • English Name: Calabash Festival of Luhu Ethnic Minority in Ximeng County, Puer
  • Location:西盟县力所乡南亢村/Nankang Village, Liso Township, Ximeng County

Introduction

The Hulu Festival is referred to as ‘Apeng Alonni’ in the Lahu language and is the most grand festival of the Lahu ethnic group in Lancang County. It is held on the 15th day of the 10th lunar month each year. During this time, villages hold lively celebrations with songs and dances. Men play the hulu sheng (a type of gourd flute) as the lead dancers, while both men and women join in the ‘Gake’ dance; women beat the elephant foot drums while performing the ‘Bai’ dance; young men and women engage in folk song duets. There are also sports and games, such as swinging, water carrying, spinning tops, and crossbow competitions. Elders gather by the fire at the pond, drinking wine and reciting the creation epic ‘Mupa Mipa.’ In the center of the dance area, a pair of gourds is placed to symbolize the ancestors of the Lahu people, and everyone shows respect towards it, always remembering the kindness and blessings of their ancestors

According to the legends described in the Lahu creation epics ‘Mupa Mipa’ and ‘Shuodian Ludian,’ the ancestors of the Lahu people were cultivated from gourds by the heavenly deity ‘Asha’ on the 15th day of the 10th lunar month in the Rexiang Mansion. Therefore, the Lahu people believe they are descendants of the gourd and regard the gourd as the embodiment of their ancestors and a symbol of good fortune for the entire nation.

In accordance with this legend, on November 6, 1991, during the ‘Lahu Ethnic History Symposium’ held in Lancang, the Lancang County government and the Standing Committee of the County People’s Congress, after consulting the opinions of Lahu participants from various regions, decided to designate the day of the ancestral birth in the legend as the official festival for the Lahu people of the county, thus establishing the 15th day of the 10th lunar month each year as the Hulu Festival.

During the festival, activities such as offering gourds, performing the hulu sheng dance, dancing the Bai dance, singing gourd epics, and playing gourd-themed games all originate from the gourd belief. This belief reflects the long-standing close relationship between the Lahu people in the mountainous areas and nature, as well as their struggles for survival. The Hulu Festival is rich in ethnic characteristics, offering a variety of vibrant activities and serving as a joyous occasion for communal singing and dancing. It encompasses a wealth of historical and cultural content.

The Lancang County government organizes various cultural and sports activities, as well as exchanges in technology and commercial goods each year, integrating traditional ethnic festivals with economic development to further enhance the social influence and recognition of the Hulu Festival