Tian'e celebrates Maguai Festival

Maguai (frog) dance performance at the celebration of the Maguai Festival in Tian'e, Hechi, on Feb 18 and 19 [Photo by Long Zhaojiang / hcwang.cn]

Nadong village, the cradle of the folk culture of Maguai, or Frog Festival in Tian'e county, Hechi, Guangxi celebrated the festival on Feb 18 and 19, attracting thousands of tourists.

The most eye-catching activities during the celebrations were performances of the intangible cultural heritage of Maguai culture, such as Maguai dance, leather drum dancing and the spinning and weaving dance. A 1,000-meter torch queue, formed to symbolize the driving away of diseases and ensuring security and peace, was a particularly magnificent sight.

The festival originates from agricultural production in primitive society, especially rice cultivation. People found that the behaviors and croaks of frogs had a relationship with what the weather was going to be like. Therefore, people in Tian'e in the Hongshui River basin began to worship frogs, which developed into a custom over time.

The Maguai Festival has been celebrated for years in Tian'e county. It once won the title of "Top National Characteristic Chinese Festival" and has been included on the list of national protection of intangible cultural heritage.

A spinning and weaving dance performance at the celebration of the Maguai Festival in Tian'e, Hechi, on Feb 18 and 19 [Photo by Long Zhaojiang / hcwang.cn]

A long torch queue spreads itself across a field. [Photo / Tian'e News Center]

Edited by Owen Fishwick