Major traditional festivals of the Dai ethnic group include "Sangkanbimai" (Water Splashing Festival), "Haowasa" (Summer Retreat or Rainy Season Retreat, commonly known as the Closing Festival), and "Owasa" (Exiting Summer Retreat or Rainy Season Retreat, commonly known as the Opening Festival). The Hani (Akha) ethnic group mainly has traditional festivals such as "Gatangpa" and "Yekuzha."
Dai Ethnic Group: "Sangkanbimai" Festival (Water Splashing Festival), April 13-15 (Gregorian calendar). Grand Buddhist ceremonies are held, along with activities such as throwing packets, dragon boat racing, setting off fireworks, sand piling, and cockfighting. The climax of the festival is water splashing, with the saying "Getting soaked means lifelong happiness."
Hani Ethnic Group: "Gatangpa" Festival (Meaning of remembering ancestors and welcoming the new year), January 2-4 (Gregorian calendar). People pound glutinous rice cakes, worship household gods, and hold feasts. Young men and women go to the mountains to pick wildflowers and wild fruits. Men of all ages spin tops.
Lahu Ethnic Group
The Lahu Festival falls on the same day as the Han Chinese Spring Festival. The main food is pounded glutinous rice cakes. On the morning of the first day of the Lunar New Year, people go to the mountain spring to fetch fresh water. The first three days are called the Women's Year, during which men entertain guests and manage household chores. The fourteenth to the sixteenth days are the Men's Year, during which men can hunt, drink, and sing. The main activity is the Lusheng dance.
Blang Ethnic Group
The Hauwasa Festival, also known as the Closing the Door Festival, falls in mid-July. Family members perform the "Songma" (repentance) ceremony before the family head, praying for peace and safety in the coming year.
Jino Ethnic Group
The Wumaoke Festival (New Year) falls from February 6th to 8th. It involves beating large drums and holding ceremonies such as bull slaughtering, preparing for plowing, blacksmithing, and the transfer and transmission of blacksmithing skills.
The Yao ethnic group's Panwang Festival, also known as "Jumping Panwang" or "Returning Panwang's Wish," features Panwang, also known as Panhu, who is the ancestor and totem of the Yao people.