Wa Face-smearing Festival, China

The Wa people call it Moh Nin Hei – the Festival of Solidarity – but when translated phonetically into Chinese, it becomes the ‘Face-Smearing Festival’ (Mo Ni Hei). By pure coincidence, that’s exactly what this rambunctious day is all about. During the carnival, revellers smear each other with a special kind of mud mixed with herbs and minerals. Some even go so far as to actually roll around in mud pools. Accompanied by cheerful Wa music and dance, it’s a truly playful and boisterous event. Though not a traditional Wa festival, the Face-smearing Festival is a successful hybrid of Wa culture and modern tourism. The Wa historically used mud for bodily decoration as well as protection against sunlight and insects, something it is said they learned from water buffalo – a sacred animal to the Wa. The Face-smearing Festival is usually held in late April or early May and can last three days to a week. Cover photo credit by 刘冉阳/中新社/视觉中国

Cangyuan county, Lincang

photo credit：李明/视觉中国

The event in Cangyuan – the county seat – is one of the largest, with celebrations set in the town’s aptly named Face-smearing Square (Monihei Guangchang). Numerous Wa cultural and arts events accompany the muddy festivities here.

Wending Village, Cangyuan County, Lincang

photo credit: 小禪离/视觉中国

In the historical mountain village of Wending (a J, the festival feels more rustic and mystical, and offers the possibility to witness a Wa sacrificial ritual called Lamugu, or ‘Hauling the Wood Drum’ – a legacy of the community’s ancient religion.