The Torch Festival of Yi is held from 24th and the 26th day of the sixth month of the Yi community. This Torch Festival of Yi is a native of the Sichuan Province. This festival is celebrated in the grandest of manners and is a riot of colors and adventurous activities. The festival lasts for three whole days, in which the first day consists of paying tribute to the ancestors, paying a visit to the relatives as well as friends in order to wish them the best of luck. The second day of the festival is earmarked for various types of adventurous activities, such as bull and sheep fights, horse races, cockfights, song competitions, beauty contests, wrestling matches, small contests and so on. This day aims at bringing out the competitive spirit in you.

The third and the final day is considered to be the most important one when huge campfires are lighted whilst people gather around it to sing songs and dance around them almost for the whole of the night.

According to the members of the Yi community, the flame of the campfire signifies happiness, prosperity as well as good luck for the people of the Yi community. This festival is also referred to as a carnival with Chinese attributes.

Ethnic Minority Festivals of China

Water-Splashing Festival

Torch Festival of Yi

Knife-Pole Festival of Lisu