On November 25, the “Yagya” competition of the 12th National Traditional Games of Ethnic Minorities of the People’s Republic of China took place in Hainan.

“Yagya” is a kind of tug-of-war sporting event, where two competitors lie on two ends of a field, and their necks are wrapped with the same long silk cloth. They pull in opposite directions. The one who pulls over the designated area is the winner.

Yagya is widely popular among the Tibetan people, who regard elephants as auspicious and worship the power of elephants. Therefore, this special sport is also called “Elephant Tug-of-War” and “Tibetan style Tug-of-War ”.