Munao Festival (木脑节 Munao Jie)

Date: the 15th day of the first lunar month

The Jingpo people mainly live in Yunnan Province with a population of 132,000. The Jingpo language is a branch of Sino-Tibetan language family based on Latin letters. The ethnic group believes in primitive religion of multiple-gods. The biggest sacrifice ceremony "Munao Mass Dance" has turned into an annual festival: Munao Festival.

"Munao Mass Dance" means all people gather dancing. The Munao Festival is kicked off on the 15th day of the First lunar month and lasts for four or five days. The festival mainly features singing and dancing, hoping to invite happiness and felicity in the coming years.

"Munao Mass Dance" has a long history. Legend has it that the special singing and dancing style of the Jingpo people originated from God of the Sun. It is said that only the children of the Sun can dance in that special manner. Once, the birds of the Earth participated in the Sun's party and learned the dancing of Munao. Later, the birds were dancing in the forests and the ancestors of the Jingpo people went to watch and learned the dancing from them. Surprisingly, after the first dancing and singing in that particular manner, the Jingpo people found the productivity of both human and livestock all significantly improved.

All Munao Festival activities are conducted around two Munao poles erected in the central of a big square or grassland. The poles measures 20 meters high, and two shining huge swords placed between them symbolizes bravery and persistence of the Jingpo people. According to the Jingpos, people standing on either of the two high platforms set up in front of the poles can foresee into the future.

The most wonderful part of the festival is the scene of chaotic dancing, often participated in by thousands of Jingpo people.

The joyful people in their peculiar traditional clothes are cheering as women waving handkerchiefs and men waving swords. The choreographic steps and sequence sometimes dramatize actions of hunting, farming and their daily life. The sound of traditional flutes and gongs is so loud that it can shake the mountains. The excited Jingpo people will keep dancing, even for two days straight.