Third Month Fair

The festival is also known as the Market of Guanyin, Guanyin being the bodhisattva of mercy in Chinese Buddhism. It is said that Guanyin came to ancient Dali on the 15th day of the third month of the Chinese calendar, so an annual temple celebration was established on that day. An alternative origin story says that the festival celebrates the marriage of a princess, from the family of the dragon king of Erhai Lake, and a fisherman. The princess and the fisherman went to an annual market, held by gods and goddesses on the 15th day of the third month, that had precious stones and medicinal herbs. A version of this story says that the market was on the Moon, and the couple went to buy fishing materials but did not find any. This celestial market (or a new market inspired by it) was moved to Earth, and it became the Third Month Street Fair. ==Observance==

The festival is observed by the Bai people and other ethnic groups of Yunnan. It is traditionally a time to pray for the harvest. ==Government recognition==

In modern times, government officials have lent support to the Third Month Fair, seeing it as a way to promote economic growth, especially for minority communities, and to show support for Bai culture. It was made a public holiday in 1991, with residents getting two days off. This was later expanded to three days off, from the 15th to the 17th of the third month of the Chinese calendar. ==See also==