Fruit Festival dances the joy of harvest
The mulberry simmering ceremony before the transfer to the fields on the Wangguo Festival (data photo)
When the snowy plateau river valleys are dyed golden, it is the season when highland barley and wheat mature, and the annual grand festival in Xizang-the "Wangguo Festival" has also begun. "Wangguo" is a transliteration, meaning "turning to the crops". The Yucuo Festival is very popular in the middle reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo River and rural areas on both sides of the Lhasa River. It usually takes place sooner or later in various places before the crops are ripe and the sickle is ready to be opened. Farmers regard Wangguo Festival as a festival given by nature. On the first morning of the Wangguo Festival, villagers carry scriptures and circle around the crops to pray in order to seek the protection of the gods and achieve a bumper harvest of crops. This was the earliest origin of "Wangguo"(Zhuantian), and this custom has continued to this day.
historical origin
"When the Pleiades (one of the twenty-eight constellations) go up the mountain, the cattle go down the river, and the birch trees are as red as monks 'robes, even young crops have to be cut." This is a proverb widely circulated in Xizang about spring plowing and autumn harvest. It means that the time when the Pleiades reach the top of the mountain in the west is the season of spring plowing and sowing, and the cattle plowing can drink water in the river. In autumn, when the leaves turn yellow and the birch leaves turn as red as the robes of monks, harvesting begins even if the crops in the field are not yet fully ripe.
horse racing activities at Wangguo Festival (data picture)
Tibetan scholar Chile Quzha believed in his "Records of the Customs and Geography of Xizang" that the Wangguo Festival was formed in a very long time. As early as 2,000 years ago, the custom of Yuguo Festival was established in the Yalong Valley. Because Xizang is located in an alpine region, the climate changes are unpredictable, and there are many hails between summer and autumn, and they are cruel and ruthless. After the hail, the yellow-ripe crops were destroyed, like arrows thrown by the gods. The blow to the farmers was beyond words. Because science is underdeveloped, farmers believe that the reason why they suffer from bad luck is that farmers violate summer taboos, or some women wash their hair on forbidden days, or some herdsmen graze on forbidden days, or they simmer bones and dirt, offending the gods of snow mountains, rivers and local protection. Therefore, before the autumn harvest, we should hold a sacrifice and entertainment activity to the gods that farmers can think of and do to win the favor of the gods. Please show mercy to the gods and stop hailstorms and disasters.
In the past, the date of Wangguo Festival was calculated by the local curse master responsible for driving away hail, and also by Benxika (the owner of the estate) and the male and female wizards in the village. People believed that they were the spokespersons of mountain gods, dragon gods or local gods. Once the date is set, it will be rain or shine. Otherwise, the powerful Nyenqing Tanggula Mountain God will be furious and bring a natural disaster. Nowadays, in each township, the local elders choose the festival dates based on how soon the crops ripen.
In August, the agricultural areas on the snowy plateau have entered the harvest season. Heavy golden rapeseed and highland barley stretch out one by one, and harvest scenes are everywhere. The annual Wangguo Festival has also begun.
jubilant festival
During an interview in Mozhugongka County, we heard that Tangjia Township was celebrating the Shanguo Festival, so we rushed over and shared the joy of a bumper harvest with the villagers.
Before we even reached the festival venue, we could see tents set up on the grassland in the distance. Bicycles, motorcycles, tractors, etc. were parked densely aside.
Wang Yingxiang, secretary of the Tangjia Township Party Committee, said: "You have missed the farmland transfer ceremony because the farmland transfer ceremony was held in the morning, and now it is a cultural performance."
"This is one of the most solemn festivals for the Tibetan people. The Wangguo Festival mainly indicates a bumper harvest for the villagers. After the festival, every household will start harvesting crops." Wang Yingxiang said.
There were song and dance performances on site. Wang Yingxiang said that these programs were written and performed by the villagers. Today, Wangguo Festival is more entertaining than before, and Wangguo Festival has gradually become the biggest festival for Tibetan farmers. During the festival, men, women and children in the village gathered together, drank sweet highland barley wine, chatted, cheered with the wonderful performances on the stage, or sang and danced to celebrate this festival, which symbolizes a bumper harvest. At the same time as the holidays, the cultural life of the masses has also been enriched.
Cheerful songs and dances were performed on the stage, and the actors danced with passion to express the joy of a bumper harvest. There was a sea of joy under the stage, and the audience applauded warmly from time to time. The tractors and car roofs behind the crowd were full of people or standing on them, for fear of missing any program. Everyone cheered happily. It seemed that at this moment, the whole world was immersed in a warm atmosphere...
According to local villagers, the time of Wangguo Festival was calculated by prestigious local elders. The calculated day is the most auspicious time, and once this time is set, it will be immovable.
On the day of Wangguo Festival, there are field transfer ceremonies, as well as rich activities such as horse racing and cultural performances. During the festival, the farmers who have worked hard for a year all hope to have a good time during the festival. They race horses and archery, carnival all night long, and enjoy the joy of the festival in the melody of song and dance. As soon as the festival is over, the intense autumn harvest begins.
Highland barley wine is fragrant on the grassland
During the festival, a warm atmosphere filled the snowy plateau, and happiness filled everyone's face. The villagers who came to participate in the Wangguo Festival, whether old or young, wore festive costumes that they rarely wore, and their faces were filled with joy. After setting up his own tent, setting up tsampa, highland barley wine, butter tea and other delicacies, and sitting around with relatives and family members, he picked up the highland barley wine and sang a song of auspicious blessings. The song floated on the grassland with the aroma of highland barley wine.
Villager Gesang drove a tractor and carried delicious food prepared a few days in advance. He and his family and relatives happily rushed to the event site to participate in the Wangguo Festival, the most lively festival in the Xizang rural area except the Tibetan New Year. Gesan said that he was waiting for his brother, who was working in Lhasa City, to go home to celebrate the holidays, but he came a little late.
At this time, the scene was already very lively. Nearby businessmen took this opportunity to move the market to a festival venue. The rich variety of snacks and wines attracted the favor of the villagers. The joy of a bumper harvest became more intense in the smiling faces of the villagers and cups of sweet highland barley wine.
Everyone sat in tents and on the grass, sang songs, drank wine and celebrated the festival. The villagers have been busy for more than half a year, and now they can finally reunite with their families and relatives. People who work outside will also rush home from afar just to celebrate this harvest day with their families.
"Except for the New Year, the whole family can only get together on the Wangguo Festival every year. Of course, I have to go home." Tsering Dawa, who works outside, said happily that after the Wangguo Festival, he and his family went to the fields to harvest the heavy highland barley after resting at home for a day.
For adults, Wangguo Festival is a festival to celebrate a bumper harvest and family reunion. For children, Wangguo Festival is the most exciting and most expectant festival for fun and fun in their summer vacation life. The children happily took the pocket money given by their parents to buy what they liked. After buying the toys they liked, they danced and danced with joy and chased and played with their friends on the grassland.
At the Wangguo Festival, whether they are villagers, vendors, or tourists from other places, they are immersed in the joy of a bumper harvest, and the air seems to be filled with a sense of happiness.
Everyone drank to their heart's content, everyone sang to their heart's content, danced to their heart's content, and let happy laughter spread across the earth. The jubilant Wangguo Festival represents the people's prayer for good weather this year, and will surely bring another heavy harvest and joy next year.