New rice celebration ritual of Chu Ru ethnic people reenacted

The program introduced to the public the distinctive agricultural cultural space of the Central Highlands’ residents, closely associated with production life, folk beliefs, and a strong sense of community solidarity.

For generations, the Chu Ru people in Diom A village, D’Ran commune, Lam Dong province have been closely attached to wet-rice cultivation, upland farming, mountains and forests. In their spiritual life, rice is not only a source of food but also a gift from the earth and heaven, bestowed by the Yang (deities). Therefore, after each harvest season, the Chu Ru people hold the new rice celebration ritual to express gratitude to the deities and pray for favorable weather, bumper crops in the coming season.

At the Hanoi-based village, the ritual was solemnly recreated in accordance with traditional customs.

The People’s Army Newspaper would like to present some images of the new rice celebration ritual of the Chu Ru ethnic people.

When the rice turns golden and ripe, the village patriarch visits fields, observes and selects the most beautiful rice plot, informs the field owner, and agrees on the location for the ritual.

After that, the village patriarch invites relatives, neighboring households, and villagers to join in the preparations and gather at the chosen rice field to conduct the ceremony.

Villagers prepare traditional offerings, such as bamboo tube rice, ruou can (wine drunk out of a jar through pipes), chicken, pork, and other homemade agricultural products as expressions of gratitude.

The sound of the gong resounds.

During the main ritual, the rice field owner or one of his family members carries Neu, a bamboo pole, around the offering tray while loudly reciting prayers to invite the Yang.

Afterward, the village patriarch performs the main worship rituals, inviting deities to witness the ceremony and expressing gratitude to them.

Traditional agricultural production activities familiar to the Chu Ru people are also reenacted, reflecting the diligent working rhythm of the community.

The village patriarch invites the villagers to join the celebration.

The ceremony attracts a large number of visitors.

Translated by Mai Huong