The Dwarf Spirit Festival of Dayi Village

　　The Dwarf Spirit Festival of Dayi Village is situated in Wufeng Township, Hsinchu County. Like the Saisiyat people at Xiangtian Lake in Miaoli, they hold a small ritual approximately every two years and a grand one every ten years around the 15th day of the 10th lunar month. The Dwarf Spirit Festival is their most important ceremony and also the most mysterious and best-preserved mountain indigenous ritual in Taiwan. Legend has it that the Saisiyat held this ceremony to honor the spirits of the deceased dwarves, hoping they would no longer bring harm or seek revenge, and to pray for the dwarves’ blessings of safety and a bountiful harvest. Over time, this ritual was incorporated into their Harvest Festival and eventually replaced it to become the tribe’s most significant celebration. The festival usually takes place around the 15th day of the 10th lunar month and mainly consists of three parts: welcoming the spirits, entertaining the spirits, and seeing off the spirits. The entire event spans three days and nights. Due to better transportation access compared to Xiangtian Lake, Dayi Village attracts large crowds of visitors every year, creating a lively and bustling atmosphere throughout the village.