"Shangwang" is a word from the language of the Mo'le People, a branch of the Bai Minority living in Luobenzhuo Township of Lushui County, Nujinag Prefecture. "Shangwang" means March, so "Shangwang Festival" is in deed "March Festival" traditionally spent by Mo'le People.
When the peach blossoms come out, Mo'le People would always spent "Shangwang Festival", holding solemn sacrificial ceremonies and preparing sumptuous food like chicken, mutton, liquor and rice cakes etc.
On the day of "Shangwang Festival", all the villagers will get attired and gather either in the village square or under a peach tree. The most respectable man of the village will at first feed the dogs and then offer the food and peach blossoms to God in hope that the villagers will be blessed with happiness and bumper harvests in the days to come. It's said that when the Mo'le People first migrated to Nujiang, a dog brought them crop seeds and helped them settle down; so the first share of food must be given to dogs on the occasion of a festival.
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