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Mysterious Arrow-sticking Festival

My visit to the Labrang Monastery in southern Gansu coincided with Tibetans' arrow sticking festival, which is a tradition worshipping war and Buddha guarding gods.

The festival has evolved from old Tibetan sacrifice rites in pre-historic times. Tibetan people's primitive worship of heroes and heaven gradually gave birth to many guarding gods in their religions and god of war and god of mountain have become the most popular two god among Tibetan people. Each tribe has their own mountain god guarding their villages and time for sacrifice rites varies for different tribes.

 

When the arrow-sticking festival falls, huge and beautiful arrows are stuck in sacrifice place which is fixed- usually on the highest peak or the strategic pass near the village, The procedures for arrow sticking include preparation, throwing sangzi, sticking arrows, sticking banners and spreading a special paper-made worship articles called "wind and horse".

Tawa Village is a big tribe in the town of Labrang. The 73-year-old village head Talang told me that the festival had enjoyed a history of more than 200 years in the village. Villagers begin preparation half month before the festival falls. The day before the festival, arrows must be ready.


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