Yongping, Dali: Blocking the Road Festival
In Yongping County, Dali Prefecture, Yunnan Province, China, where ethnic customs are strong, there is a folk festival with local characteristics that has been passed down from generation to generation and has a history of thousands of years.
Blocking the road is also called blocking the road or blocking the road, which means blocking the gods of plague that harm farm animals, so that they do not harm pigs, cattle, sheep, horses and other livestock, so that the livestock can prosper safely.
It is said that a long time ago, some "plague gods" suddenly came to some villages. The god of plague comes without a trace and goes without a trace. Wherever he goes, livestock will either die or fall ill. In the past, cows roared and horses roared, but now pigs are dead and their pens are empty. The villagers were panicked, helpless, tossed and turned, and miserable. Taking advantage of the slack season, some daring young and middle-aged men invited each other and gathered together to go to the village to sacrifice and stop the god of plague at the place where livestock grazing must pass. The epidemic finally subsided. From ancient times to the present, it has been passed down from generation to generation, forming a festival that dates back thousands of years.
The 18th day of the fifth month of the lunar calendar every year is a specific day that blocks the road. At this time, the busy spring plowing production has been completed, and farm men, women and children have enough time to get together to "send the god of plague" in the way and ensure the safety of livestock. According to custom, people in each village are taken over by those with prestige in the village, calling on each household to piece together money and materials, make all preparations, and inform them of the specific time and place of the gathering.
On this day in the way, each household should select at least one person to participate. Before the founding of New China, due to the influence of feudal superstitions, women were not allowed to participate, otherwise it would be "unlucky." After the founding of New China, especially in recent years, the more participants, regardless of age, the better. For those in the way, men wear their favorite clothes and bring what they consider the most high-end cigarettes. The women looked left and right in front of the mirror, deliberately tidying up. The young girl of her age was dazzling and charming as a flower. Everyone beamed as if attending a major rally.
People go to a fork where livestock going out to graze must pass through, choose a place with clear flowing water, gentle terrain, and pleasant scenery, and build pots and stoves to kill chickens and sheep and burn pig heads. Everyone take positive actions and do what they can. When the chicken smelled fragrant, the mutton was thoroughly cooked, the pig's head was cooked, and the food was ready, the three animals of the pig's head were placed on a temporarily built offering table, lit the incense, chanted the words of good luck and safety, and kowtowed one by one. After the ceremony, he immediately took the ground as a banquet and returned home full of wine and food. If the number of participants is small, the cooked food will be distributed to each household per head and taken back by the participants so that the whole family can eat together.
With the changes of the times, the festival of kneeling down and praying for the safety of livestock has actually evolved into a way of group outing that everyone is happy to participate in. (Zhang Huijun)