Maguai Festival wows visitors from home, abroad

Over 10,000 visitors from home and abroad gathered in Baying village of Donglan county in Hechi city, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, on March 1 to celebrate the Maguai Festival of the Zhuang ethnic group, which occurs on the second day of the second month on the Chinese calendar.

The Zhuang ethnic people worship the frog as maguai, which is central to this festival. It is prevalent in the Hongshui River basin and was listed in 2006 as a national intangible cultural heritage item in China.

At the event, hundreds of bronze drums lined the banks of the Baying River, their deep, rhythmic beats echoing a warm welcome to guests. Villagers, adorned with masks and body paint, brought the ancient tradition of frog worship to life through a captivating ceremony, seeking blessings as they reenacted this time-honored ritual.

Thai tourists attending the event spoke highly of the festival, noting that the frog worship and frog dance are impressive. They also said that visiting Zhuang ethnic villages makes them feel at home, as the Zhuang ethnic dialect is similar to the Thai language.