The Organizing Committee of the Village of Culture and Tourism of Vietnamese Ethnic Groups said that "New Rice Festival" is an important traditional ritual in the cultural life of the Thai people, usually held after the harvest season, when new rice grains have been harvested.
Every year, around May - June according to the Thai calendar and September - October according to the solar calendar, the Thai people organize the New Rice Festival. This is not only an occasion for people to celebrate the fruits of their labor but also to express gratitude to heaven and earth, ancestors and nature for bestowing a prosperous life.
In the ritual, the offering tray is prepared from seasonal products such as pork, grilled carp, wine, fruits and new rice wrapped in leaves.
In particular, sticky rice steamed from new sticky rice and traditional dishes are indispensable offerings, showing the Thai people's respect for rice grains, rice grains and labor.
Before the ritual takes place, the shaman carefully checks the offerings. The prayers are sung not only to inform ancestors about the new crop but also to remind children and grandchildren about the journey of land reclamation, field farming of previous generations.
Through the ritual, the people send their wishes for a peaceful life, healthy families, bumper crops, developed livestock, and always favorable forest and stream trips.
For the Thai people, the new rice offering ceremony is therefore not simply a religious ritual but also an opportunity for family members to reunite, remember their ancestors and educate the young generation to appreciate labor and cherish every grain of rice made from the sweat of farmers.
Traditionally, the New Rice Festival is usually held within the family with the participation of relatives, siblings, villagers and close friends.
However, at the Village of Culture - Tourism of Vietnamese Ethnic Groups, the ritual is recreated in a community space, opening up opportunities for people and tourists to directly learn about the customs and habits that have been associated with the long-standing life of the Thai people of Son La.
After the solemn ritual part, the atmosphere became more bustling with cultural exchange activities. The sound of drums and gongs rang out, people and tourists drank can wine and immersed themselves in traditional xoe dances.
Hands holding each other, rhythmic steps in the sound of music have blurred the distance between hosts and guests, between people in the highlands and tourists from many different localities.
From a ritual imbued with family identity, the New Rice Festival, when introduced in the community cultural space, has become a lively experience, helping the public better understand the rich spiritual life of the Thai people.
From new rice grains on the fields, trays of rice offered to ancestors to bustling dances, the Kin Khau Muu ceremony brings a story about gratitude, family affection, respect for labor and community solidarity.
