Nuo Opera among Yi ethnic group

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2006-06-14 09:40

Chinese performers from Yi ethnic group perform a kind of opera in this undated picture from Xinhua News Agency. The opera, called Nuo in Chinese, aims to exorcise the devil causing any plague and pray for happiness and rich harvest.Nuo performers often wear masks painted in different colors.Yi ethnic minority is mainly scattered in Yunnan, Sichuan, Guizhou provinces and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Chinese government steps up its effort to protect relics as it established the "Cultural Heritage Day" which falls on the second Saturday of June every year. [Xinhua]