River Lantern Festival celebrated in an ancient village in Shaanxi

Villagers played gongs and drums to celebrate the annual River Lantern Festival in ancient Chayu village of Heyang county, Southwest China's Shaanxi province, July 30, 2015. [Photo/CFP]

Each year before the coming flood season, residents of ancient Chayu village of Heyang county in Southwest China's Shaanxi province pray for safety by offering sacrifices to the river god.

Lanterns are set adrift on the Yellow River and steamed buns are presented to the god as part of the annual River Lantern Festival. The colorful event is celebrated on the 15th day of the sixth Chinese lunar month, which fell on Thursday this year.

Situated in the Gouyukou tributary of the Yellow River, residents have held the festival as Chayu village faces potential threats of damage to croplands and houses during the summer flood season. Meanwhile, the lives of boatmen from the village also may be in great jeopardy.

According to local villagers, each year before the coming flood season, villagers offer sacrifices to the river god by floating lanterns in the river and praying for the safety of the villagers and their loved ones.

The festival has been carried on for so long that even the village elders cannot remember when it started.