"Lantern Festival on the Second of the Second Month of the Lunar Year" in Ningxi town

chinadaily.com.cn | Updated: 2019-01-28

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The first evening of the event was called "stirring streets." The "residences" organized their own bands to play drums and gongs along the streets or in the kiosks, which announced the opening of the event. On every following evening, a ceremony worshiping the picture of the god would be held. The grandest ceremony would take place on the fourth to push the event to its peak. It was also the day of the fair in Ningxi town was held, which attracted throngs of people coming from surrounding areas to view lanterns or visit relatives and friends.

In the evening, every "residence" would organize a team of hundreds of people to stage the procession of lanterns. The procession started with two gong players leading a team of 13, followed by the placards, big red handheld lanterns, dragon flags, as well as folk performances such as dragon dances, lion dances, on-pole performances, and boat dances, which drew great attention from spectators.

Various lanterns were displayed one after another amid the sounds and music played by the team of drummers, gong players, and the band. In the rear of the procession was the picture of the "god" worshiped by the "residence", which was lifted by people.

Although Ningxi town is mountainous, there are five to six streets that stretch five-to-six-miles, where the processions of the "residences" would go on in order, with the processions almost linked together.

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The lighting sets of Rose blooming at the lantern festival in Ningxi town, Taizhou, Zhejiang province on May 7, 2018. [Photo/hynews.zjol.com.cn]

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