The forest god worshiping ceremony is one of the most important festivals of the year for the Giay ethnic people, associated with the belief in forest worship - a place considered a living space and shelter for the community. The worship ceremony is usually held 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 candies.
In the recreated space, the ceremony part is solemnly organized with the chairmanship of the shaman. Before the full offering tray, the shaman performs the ritual of offering incense, reciting prayers inviting the gods to witness, praying for a year of favorable weather, bumper crops, livestock development, and people being healthy and a peaceful life.
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 existed for a very long time, closely associated with the lives of the people.
There were times when festivals were not organized on a large scale due to difficult economic conditions, but people still maintained them in many different forms. In some places, rituals are assigned to a family to organize annually," he said.
Also according to Mr. Luong, the characteristic of the forest god worshiping ceremony is that the main ceremony part always takes place in the forbidden forest - the sacred space of the community and only those participating in the ritual are allowed to enter. Meanwhile, the festival part is expanded for everyone to participate, creating a cultural spread.
The forest god worshiping ceremony is usually held in the annual rainy season - an important time for people's agricultural production.
Mr. Luong said that bringing the forest god worshiping ceremony from Lai Chau to the Village of Culture - Tourism of Vietnamese Ethnic Groups is not only to introduce the unique culture of the Giay ethnic people but also to send deep spiritual values.
Highland people always wish for very simple things like health, peace, and favorable harvests to stabilize their lives. That is the core meaning of the festival," he shared.
The atmosphere in the organizing area became bustling right after the ceremony with unique cultural and artistic activities. The graceful fan dances and graceful hat dances of Giay women attracted the attention of tourists. In addition, folk games such as chicken badminton brought a joyful atmosphere, connecting the community.
The re-enactment of the ritual during the May 1 holiday has contributed to helping tourists better understand the beliefs and cultural life associated with nature of the Giay ethnic people.
According to records, a large number of tourists gathered to watch the ritual early, recording unique moments of the festival. Outdoor performance space, close to nature, contributing to clearly recreating the cultural life of the highland people.
