- Title: China's Yi minority celebrate torch festival
- Date: 23rd July 2017
- Summary: BUTUO, SICHUAN PROVINCE, CHINA (JULY 22, 2017) (REUTERS) PEOPLE GATHERING FOR BULL AND RAM FIGHTING EVENTS RAM CHILDREN SEATED MEN PRODDING BULL WITH POLES BULL (SOUNDBITE) (Yi) YIFU XIEZUO, SAYING: " I worked really really hard to groom this bull for this great competition, I'm hoping I can get a good score to make my family happy, but even though mine is really strong I can see that others are quite strong too." VARIOUS OF BULL FIGHT IN PROGRESS MAN SMOKING CIGARETTE HEIZI XIGA WITH RAM (SOUNDBITE) (Yi) HEIZI XIGA, SAYING: "This is a traditional festival for us so I'm bringing my ram over to hopefully get a good score and some good luck." RAM BEING BROUGHT ON TO FIGHT RAMS AND OWNERS VARIOUS OF RAMS FIGHTING PEOPLE WATCHING TWO PEOPLE WHO TRIED TO CHEAT BEING TAKEN AWAY BY THE POLICE BUTUO, SICHUAN PROVINCE, CHINA (JULY 20, 2017) (REUTERS) (MUTE) TIMELAPSE SHOWING NIGHT FALLING IN BUTUO TORCH FESTIVAL VENUE PEOPLE LIGHTING TORCHES VARIOUS OF CHILDREN HOLDING TORCHES TOGETHER (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) WANYI, SAYING: "In the past people had the tradition of using these torches to ward off insects and protect their homes, the torches and dancing are a custom just like the bull and ram fighting." VARIOUS OF CHILDREN OUTSIDE OFFICIAL CEREMONY VARIOUS OF OFFICIAL TORCH CEREMONY IN PROGRESS MAN THROWING TORCH ON FIRE VARIOUS OF PEOPLE DANCING (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) JI XIAOCUN, SAYING: "Because it gets quite festive and exciting during the torch festival lots of boys and girls who quite like each other will end up getting together if they can." PEOPLE LIGHTING TORCHES PEOPLE DANCING PEOPLE PLAYING WITH TORCHES VARIOUS OF FIRE BURNING PEOPLE DANCING
- Embargoed: 6th August 2017 07:17
- Keywords: torch festival bull ram insects party
- Location: BUTUO, SICHUAN PROVINCE, CHINA
- City: BUTUO, SICHUAN PROVINCE, CHINA
- Country: China
- Topics: Living / Lifestyle,Human Interest / Brights / Odd News,Society/Social Issues
- Reuters ID: LVA0016QXS389
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: In a remote part of western China, the Yi minority group celebrated one of the highlights of their year - the torch festival.
In one village, four hours drive from the nearest city, locals gathered for games including bull bullfighting and ram fighting. The games are taken very seriously by the locals and those caught breaking the rules found themselves in handcuffs.
After dark people took to the streets in a nearby town to light torches and dance around fires. Lighting torches and carrying them around the neighborhood is seen as a way to ward off bugs, though today it's also used as an excuse to have a party.
The Yi, one of China's 56 officially recognised minorities live in the mountains and valleys of Sichuan province and their isolation means they have retained many of their traditions in a rapidly modernising country. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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