Gin festival pays homage to the sea
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E-mail China Today, July 28, 2017
Sacrifice to the Sea
The Ha Festival is observed mostly by the Gins living in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. The starting date varies in different regions – the 10th day of the sixth lunar month on the Wanwei and Wutou islands, the 10th day of the eighth lunar month on Shanxin Island, and the 25th day of the first lunar month for certain hamlets along the coast; but the format and content are similar, with the theme being the offer of a sacrifice to the God of the Sea and praying for a good harvest and safety.
Prior to the three-day festival, the Gins clean their homes and yards. When the day comes, they put on their best clothes, and gather at the Ha Pavilion for a variety of festive activities that run into the night.
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A group of the Gins go to the shore to greet the God of the Sea. |
The rite starts with greeting the gods. All residents of the community come to the shore carrying the shrine, banners and a giant umbrella, inviting the gods to the Ha Pavilion. At about 3 pm, a preacher, in the presence of the whole community, greets gods from the sea and heaven as well as the spirit of Gin ancestors, reads an ode, and offers them wine and other gifts. These are followed by performances meant to entertain the immortals and the dead, including singing, dancing and storytelling.
At the conclusion of the rite, some of the participants take seats for a banquet and to watch the “Ha” in the Ha Pavilion. This is a privilege for the men who help prepare the sacrificial objects and serve the food and drinks. Women and children may also help with the preparatory work, but can only listen to the “Ha” outside the pavilion.
Two young women take turns to sing the Ha, while a man plays a three-stringed musical instrument. One woman croons, as she sways and claps two bamboo slips, and keeps the beat with her clappers, and the other harmonizes. After the singer finishes one verse, the man plucks his instrument for a section of the music. This cycle continues until one singer is tired, and the other takes her turn. The Ha singing goes on for three days, and the themes of the songs range from folklores and life's philosophy to love.
The last step of the rite is seeing the gods off, staged amid a chorus sung by all participants. In addition to singing, which is dominated by women, men's sports are also a salient feature of the Ha Festival, including a bull fight, a martial arts contest, and wrestling.
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