Stocky peasants taking part in Asian festival (8)

I believe the answer is:

thickset

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'stocky' is the definition.
(synonyms)

'peasants taking part in asian festival' is the wordplay.
'peasants' becomes 'hicks' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'taking part in' indicates putting letters inside.
'asian festival' becomes 'tet' (I've seen this in another clue).
'hicks' put into 'tet' is 'THICKSET'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for thickset that I've seen before include "Solidly-built" , "Beefy" , "Solidly built; growing close together" , "Compact" , "Strapping" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.

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