The Torch Festival falls between 24th day to the 26 days of the sixth lunar month. It is a shared traditional festival of the Yi, Naxi, and Bai peoples in southwestern China.
It is an influential event to the Yi, such as is the Spring Festival for the Han people. For three days, men and women, young and old, carry flaming torches and engage in a variety of activities.
The Festival also presents a good opportunity for young men and women to meet their prospective spouses.
Men and women in pairs form rows facing one another on a patch of grass. The men play three-stringed instruments while the women kick and clap to the tempo.