In southwest China's Yunnan Province, people of the Dai ethnic group have begun the Closing Festival season, a three-month celebration deeply rooted in farming traditions and community renewal.

As rains soak into the earth in mid-September of the Dai calendar--corresponding to July in the Gregorian calendar--the Dai people welcome the Closing Festival, a traditional celebration that spans three months and concludes in mid-December (October in the Gregorian calendar).

The term "closing" is symbolic, it does not imply sealing off the village. Instead, it reflects a seasonal shift. As crops flourish during the rains, the Dai people turn their focus to farming, adjusting daily rhythms in preparation for the harvest and upcoming festivals. The tradition is deeply rooted in nature and agricultural life.

During the festival, warmth fills the village. Families gather in the square to share glutinous rice wrapped in banana leaves, enjoy pickled sour dishes, and exchange stories about farming over cups of rice wine. Dressed in traditional costumes, villagers perform the Peacock Dance and Elephant-Foot Drum Dance, their tube skirts swaying, silver ornaments jingling, and the beat of drums and gongs echoing through the air. Travel slows, work deepens, and elders pass down farming wisdom and folk customs to the younger generation.

The Closing Festival embodies not only the wisdom of aligning with agricultural seasons but also serves as a bond to inherit culture and strengthen community ties, encapsulating the Dai people's philosophy of coexisting harmoniously with nature.