Thar people's Saban Festival

The name of China's national intangible cultural heritage: Tatar Saban Festival

Applicant: Tacheng District, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region

Project No.: 987

Project No.: Ⅹ - 80

Time of publication: 2008 (second batch)

Category: folk customs

Region: Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region

Type: new item

Applicant: Tacheng District, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region

Protected by: Tacheng cultural center, Yili Kazak Autonomous Prefecture

Introduction to the Taban festival of the Tatar Nationality:

Applicant: Tacheng District, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region

Saban Festival, also known as "plowshare Festival", is a traditional farming festival of the Tatar nationality, which is mainly spread in Urumqi, Tacheng, Ili region and Qitai County of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. It is said that Saban is a kind of wild plant growing in Central Asia. The Tatar ancestors lived by grazing, farming and hunting. When they came back from grassland and farmland in spring and summer, they would gather on the grassland full of Saban to carry out sports and cultural entertainment activities. They prayed for wind and rain, and grain was full of warehouses. Saban festival was formed for a long time. In history, Saban festival was held during spring ploughing. Later, due to climate change, the festival time was changed to mid late June.

Saban Festival is rich in content. Unique food and clothing customs will be displayed in the festival activities, and music, dance and sports activities will be held. This national festival is of great value to the study of the development history of food, clothing, music and dance of ethnic minorities in China, as well as the Tatar folk culture, aesthetic concepts and moral concepts. Today, only some Tatar people over the age of 60 in Xinjiang know the details and the process of the festival. Relevant parties should take immediate action to ensure the smooth inheritance and development of this unique national festival.