China News Service, Hohhot, March 12th: The "Dragon Lantern Festival" that continues the Chinese cultural heritage of Hohhot for 300 years begins
Author Zhang Linhu Ma Yan Yang Fan
Sacrifice to the divine dragon, play nine songs, set off fireworks, sing opera... On the evening of the 11th, the four-day "Dragon Lantern Festival" of the ancient road board, which is on the Intangible Cultural Heritage List of Inner Mongolia, kicked off.
March 11th is the second day of the second month of the lunar calendar, also known as the Spring Plowing Festival and Farming Festival. There is a folk saying that "the second day of the second lunar month, the dragon raises its head".
"Every year on the second day of February, our village holds the 'Dragon Lantern Festival' for four consecutive days. Many tourists come to worship the dragon and make wishes to pray for peace and security this year." Dragon Lanterns in Guluban Village, Baohe Shao Town, Xincheng District, Hohhot City Art successor Bu Youliang said.
That night, the "Dragon Lantern Festival" event was crowded with people, and people from all over gathered in Guluban Village.
At about 19:30, the "dragon emerging" ceremony pushed the entire "Dragon Lantern Festival" event to a climax.
With a high-pitched "auspicious time has come", a "flower dragon" more than 30 meters long and weighing more than 120 kilograms was lifted into the air by more than a dozen strong men, and the "dragon emerging" ceremony was held around the site of the Dragon King Temple.
There is a Dragon King Temple ruins in the west of Guluban Village, which has a history of more than 300 years.
In front of the site, an old elm tree with a huge crown stands majestically. It is more than 250 years old and is known as the "sacred tree".
To the west of the site, a dragon spring water flows from Panlong Mountain and winds towards the village.
"For hundreds of years, the clear and sweet spring water has been flowing all year round, continuously nourishing the people, animals and plants here." Bu Youliang said.
When he was 18 years old, Bu Youliang started learning dragon lantern art from his uncle, and it has been more than 40 years now.
Today, the dragon lantern art has been passed down for the third generation in Bu Youliang’s family.
"I have always respected the ancient folk customs that have been passed down for more than 300 years. From preparation to the emergence of the dragon, I did not dare to be careless in the slightest." Bu Youliang said.
The "Dragon Lantern Festival" on the ancient road board is divided into multiple ceremonies such as forming a dragon troupe, inviting the dragon, decorating the dragon, presenting the dragon, and drinking the dragon. The dragon troupe is composed of the people with the most upright conduct recommended and elected by the villagers.
The picture shows the scene of the "Dragon Lantern Festival".
Photo by Ma Yan
Three days before the ceremony, led by Long Ban, the folk band and drums led the way, and the villagers came to Wolong.
The "Dragon Inviting" ceremony involves saying an invitation to the dragon, offering paper tributes, lighting a fire, and setting off firecrackers. Then multiple people will invite the dragon body. The villagers will "invite" the dragon that was placed after the previous year's event. Decorate it and send it to the Dragon King Temple site to lie down and wait for the dragon to appear on February 2nd.
"This year is the Year of the Dragon. People pay more attention to this year's Dragon Lantern Festival and have more good wishes." Bu Youliang said.
After three circles, a huge flow of people followed the dragon dance class towards the "Nine Curves of the Yellow River". Along the way, villagers and tourists came forward one after another to respect the dragon, pray and make wishes, just to touch the dragon's body. Enhancing the dragon spirit, I hope it will bring good luck to you in the new year.
"The whole process was very shocking. My son is a dragon. I brought him to participate in such an event. I hope he can remember these traditional cultures." Citizen Sun Xiaobo said.
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