Accordingly, the ritual of worshiping the forest god (Hau doong) of the Giay people (Lai Chau) was restored, attracting a large number of people and tourists to attend at the Village of Culture - Tourism of Vietnamese Ethnic Groups (Doai Phuong, Hanoi).
This is one of the important rituals in the year of the Giay people, associated with the belief in forest worship with the space for survival and protection for the community.
The forest god worshiping ceremony takes place in the common forest of the village, under an ancient tree near the water source, with familiar offerings such as pigs, chickens, incense, flowers and confectionery.
In the recreated space, the ceremony is conducted solemnly under the chairmanship of a shaman. Before the full offering tray, rituals are performed in turn such as offering incense, reciting prayers inviting gods to witness, praying for favorable weather, bumper crops, livestock development and people's lives to be peaceful.
Sharing at the event, Mr. Chu Van Luong - Head of Professional Department, Lai Chau Provincial Center for Culture and Arts said that the forest god worshiping ceremony has a long history and is always closely associated with the lives of the people.
Although there was a period when it was not possible to organize on a large scale due to economic conditions, people still maintained rituals in many forms, even assigning tasks to each family to take turns organizing them.
According to Mr. Luong, the special feature of the ritual lies in the organization space: The main ceremony part takes place in the forbidden forest - a sacred place and only those participating in the ritual are allowed to enter. Meanwhile, the festival part is expanded, creating conditions for the community and tourists to participate and experience together.
The worshiping ceremony is usually held in the rainy season, an important time for agricultural production. The re-enactment of the ritual at the Village of Culture - Tourism of Vietnamese Ethnic Groups not only contributes to promoting the cultural beauty of the Giay people but also conveys profound spiritual values about the beliefs and simple aspirations of the people of the highlands.
People always hope to have health, a peaceful life, and favorable harvests. That is the core meaning of the festival" - Mr. Luong shared.
After the solemn ceremony, the atmosphere became more lively with typical cultural and artistic activities. Soft fan dances, graceful hat dances of Giay women attracted the attention of tourists. Along with that, folk games such as chicken badminton brought a joyful atmosphere, connecting the community.
The re-enactment of the forest god worshiping ceremony during the April 30 - May 1 holiday also helps tourists better understand the religious life associated with nature of the Giay people. Recorded at the event, many tourists were present early to watch and capture impressive moments.
The outdoor performance space, close to nature, has contributed to clearly depicting the unique cultural life of the highland people, bringing authentic and emotional experiences to the participants.
