Oroqen people celebrate Bonfire Festival

Each year on the 18th of June, the Oroqen people of the Greater Khingan Mountains in Northern China hold their Bonfire Festival. (Photo: CNTV.cn)

Each year on the June 18, the Oroqen people of the Greater Khingan Mountains in Northern China hold their Bonfire Festival.

Fire is important to the Oroqen people.

They worship it and it forms an important part of their ceremonies. They believe in Shamanism and the spirit of the fire. The Bonfire festival is their grandest celebration every year. It is a ceremony where they remember their roots as a nomadic people.

He Xueguang, deputy director of Oroqen Autonomous Banner, said, "We respect fire, honor fire. Fire plays an important part in our life. We have adopted modern life for quite a long time, but that does'nt mean we would abandon our tradition."

Two thousand Oroqen people now live in the area of the Greater Khingan Mountains. Apart from the bonfire festival, their history as nomads has left them unique forms of culture and art.

It is this intangible culture and art that many people haven't had the opportunity to experience. This being the case, some folk artists have taken it upon themselves to try and document it and then perform them for the widest possible audience.

Bai Ling, art instructor, said, "The outcome is beyond expectation. We have collected many folk songs, such as the lullabies and love songs we are performing. Of course we try to let more of our people know how important their tradition is. The next step is to record these songs, translate the lyrics and have more people of different ages learn them and pass them along. "

Although the Oroqen gave up their lives as nomads a long time ago, the culture they represent, is slowly becoming the subject of much interest among people. This has prompted a wider acceptance of what this minority contributes to the diversity that is China.