Jigushen Festival of Nu Ethnic Minority
Overview
- Chinese Name:怒族祭谷神
- English Name: Jigushen Festival of Nu Ethnic Minority
- Location: Pijiang area of Bijiang, inhabited by the Nu ethnic group
- Time: December 29th of the lunar calendar
- Participants: Only men (women and children are not allowed)
The Jiwei Festival is a traditional event among the Nu people, specifically those in the Pijiang area. It is held annually on the 29th day of the 12th lunar month to pray to the grain deity for a bountiful harvest in the coming year.
Activities
- Ritual Setting: Men from the village carry offerings to a pre-selected site. A shaman leads the ceremony, where they place a golden bamboo branch, a reed, and a green maple branch in the ground to conduct the rituals.
- Prayers: The shaman prays to the grain deity, asking for protection and a good harvest in the next year.
- Feast Preparation: After the prayers, a fire is lit, and food is prepared on-site. The offerings are then mixed with rice and shared among the participants.
Kua Ri Festival (夸日)
Meaning: “Striking the Plowshare”
Time: The day after Jiwei Festival
Activities
- Rain Prayer: The ritual involves the priest striking the plowshare first, followed by others in the community. This is done to pray to the rain deity for rain and peace.
Traditional Festivals of the Nu People
The Nu people celebrate several traditional festivals, including the New Year, the Flower Festival, Jiwei (Grain Deity Festival), and the Forest Festival. Among these, the New Year is the most festive and significant, marked by both grandeur and simplicity.
New Year Celebrations
- Preparations: At the end of the lunar month, families clean their courtyards, remove ash from the fire pits, and decorate doorways with pine branches. Green pine needles are spread on the ground and over kitchen utensils to symbolize the old being replaced by the new.
- New Year’s Eve: Families gather for a reunion dinner.
- New Year’s Day: Young men rush to fetch auspicious water from the well and pay respects to their elders, who then serve them wine, oil tea, and fried dough twists.
- Animal Offerings: The first meal of the New Year includes portions set aside for the household’s cows and dogs. Since cows do not eat meat, the owners open the cows’ mouths to pour in the offering.
- Communal Festivities: During the New Year, villagers slaughter pigs and sheep, exchange gifts, and invite relatives and friends for grand feasts.
Other Festivals
- Flower Festival (March 15th of the lunar calendar): Celebrated in spring.
- Jiwei Festival (December 29th of the lunar calendar): Focuses on grain deity worship.
- Forest Festival: Dedicated to forest worship and conservation.
Significance
These festivals not only celebrate agricultural cycles and ensure community bonding but also serve as a way to honor the natural world and their ancestors. The rituals and traditions reflect the Nu people’s deep connection to their environment and their gratitude for the blessings they receive.
