The Torch Festival, as a festival full of mysterious colors and rich ethnic customs, has a profound historical origin and cultural connotation.
Regarding the origin of the Torch Festival, there are various legends and explanations. One of the sayings is related to the ancient myths of the Yi ethnic group. According to legend, the powerful man Sre A Bi in the heaven wanted to wrestle with the hero Atibala on the earth, and Atibala defeated Sre A Bi. After the god Entiguzu learned of this, he was extremely angry and sent a large number of locusts and borers to destroy the crops. Atibala then led people to light torches to drive away the pests, and finally defeated the pests and ensured a bumper harvest. To commemorate this victory, people designated this day as the Torch Festival.
Another saying is related to the Yi people's worship of fire. Fire has a sacred position in Yi culture and is regarded as a power that can drive away evil spirits and filth and bring light and warmth. In ancient times, the ancestors of the Yi people lit torches at night to illuminate the road, drive away wild beasts, and also express their respect for fire. Over time, this custom gradually evolved into the Torch Festival.
There is also a saying that the Torch Festival is to commemorate an important victory in the history of the Yi ethnic group. In this war, the Yi people relied on unity and bravery, illuminated the battlefield with torches, and finally won. To remember this heroic history, the Torch Festival is held on a specific day every year.
No matter which origin is mentioned, the Torch Festival carries the Yi people's yearning for a better life, their remembrance of their ancestors, and their awe of nature. It is not only a joyous festival but also an important carrier of ethnic cultural inheritance.
Nowadays, the Torch Festival is not only a festival of the Yi ethnic group. Many other ethnic groups also participate in it together to jointly experience this unique cultural charm. The inheritance and development of the Torch Festival have enabled more people to understand and love the rich and colorful ethnic culture.