Chinese Lahus commemorate the importance of gourd in their lives through a festival. (Photo : www.instructables.com)
Residents of Lancang Lahu Autonomous County, in China’ southwestern province of Yunnan, merrily dance and sing around a large gourd to celebrate the “Gourd Festival” on the 15th day of the 10th lunar month.
The county's natives, known as the "Lahus," keep themselves busy on the two very special days to commemorate their ancestors represented by the hard-shelled fruit, which had been a symbol of cultural and artistic essence both in China and abroad.
The Lahus join early-morning gatherings in the squares of their respective villages and join together in a sing-and-dance session accompanied by the music from the hulusheng, a bamboo-pipe wind instrument with a gourd on the bottom.
As the day continues on, residents make home-made wine and take them with gluttonous rice cakes during lunchtime in large wooden tables in the villages' squares, while three incense sticks burn on a fresh, green pine branch the village men laid at the center of the table.
During lunch, the dancing and playing of hulusheng continues, with children forming circles behind the elderly as the women of the village join in the dance.
When the evening arrives, Lahu villagers create a bonfire and continue the celebration with story-telling conducted by the elders highlighted by drummers.
In this part of the celebration, some elders share their life experiences--growing up, getting married, leaving home and becoming parents--and sing more songs about their past.
During the Gourd Festival, Lahus also hold trade fairs and a cultural festival.
The gourd fruit is important and is considered an essential material to make hulusheng as well as to store wine, water, gunpowder and cereal.
