Axi Fire Worship Festival held in Mile, Yunnan

A photo taken on March 12, 2024 shows the grand Axi Fire Worship Festival held in Mile, Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province, China. /CFP

The rich and distinctive Axi Fire Worship Festival of the Yi people was held on March 12 in Mile, Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province. The Axi people belong to the Yi ethnic group, and this festival embodies the Axi people's reverence and gratitude for fire, which is an integral part of their cultural tradition.

The Axi Fire Worship Festival is the most solemn ritual of the Axi people that is held annually on the third day of the second month of the traditional Chinese calendar. On the day of the festival, as dawn breaks, young girls in the village have already finished dressing in their handmade traditional costumes, while others prepare boiled eggs or bake red sugar cakes for guests.

A photo taken on March 12, 2024 shows women drawing fire symbols on their faces for the Axi Fire Worship Festival held in Mile, Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province, China. /CFP

At the festival site, people of all ages dress up in traditional Yi costumes, their faces adorned with symbols representing fire. They wear aprons made of bamboo leaves, hemp cloth and other materials, with wild grasses and fruits adorning their heads. People sing and hold torches as they dance around a large sacrificial fire platform, creating a lively and extraordinary scene.

The Axi people’s reverence for fire can be traced back to their ancestors. From the naming ceremony conducted by the fireside at birth to various daily activities closely associated with fire, fire permeates their everyday lives. They believe that fire is sacred, a source of light and warmth, and a weapon to drive away fierce beasts.

A photo taken on March 12, 2024 shows people dancing at the Axi Fire Worship Festival held in Mile, Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province, China. /CFP

Legend has it that the ancient Axi tribe once lived in darkness without fire, subsisting on raw meat and frequently threatened by wild animals. Until one day when a mysterious elder brought fire, changing the Axi people’s lives forever, granting them light and warmth.

For this reason, the Axi Fire Sacrifice Festival is considered by the Axi people to be the most important festival, celebrated each year with solemnity and reverence, expressing their awe and gratitude to fire. This event also attracts many tourists who come to admire and experience the unique charm of Axi culture.