Opening -Door Festival, China
October 17, 2024
Dai, Bulang, Wa, De’ang and other Theravada Buddhism believers in Xishuangbanna and Dehong observe an annual three-month-long fasting called vassa, or rains retreat, which is a custom spread from ancient India and has been integrated into regional lifestyle. During the fasting, Buddhists monks must stay indoors, so it begins with a Closing-Door Festival (Guanmenjie) on the 15th day of the 9th month in Dai calendar, and ends with an Opening-Door Festival (Kaimenjie, also known as ‘OK Wassa Festival; Chuxiajie) on the 15th day of the 12th month. Opening-Door Festival coincides with the end of the wet season as well as the busy agricultural season, and local believers will celebrate it by visiting monasteries, giving alms, releasing sky lanterns and a cheerful parade through their villages.
At Xishuangbanna, Dehong
Photo and cover photo credit by 视觉中国
