Traditional fire-jumping of Pa Then ethnic people

The fire-jumping ritual is a distinctive cultural feature in the spiritual life of the Pa Then people.

The fire-jumping ritual is a distinctive cultural feature in the spiritual life of the Pa Then people, symbolizing their honesty and aspirations for good fortune. This dance also fosters solidarity and upholds the traditional values of the Pa Then ethnic community.

Sin Van Toan, born in 1985 and a participant in the fire-jumping ceremony, shared with the reporter from the People's Army Newspaper that "After performing the worship ritual, the fire-jumping ceremony begins, and the participants' minds gradually become empty as they feel the chill, signifying the entry of the fire deity into them. The fire deity often enters those with good and gentle nature to give them more strength. When we are extremely cold, we jump into the fiery flames to warm ourselves and use our bare hands and feet to toss the burning embers during our dance."

The traditional fire-jumping ceremony of the Pa Then people is officially recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage in June this year.

Accompanied by the sounds of the shaman's musical instrument, Pa Then men leap and dance amid the blazing hot embers. They scoop up wood embers with their bare hands and kick them back into the fire. The vivid red flames and billowing smoke create an immensely sacred atmosphere. Participants take turns carrying out the ritual, sometimes in groups of two or three. By the time the fire has died out, all the men collectively jump to scatter the remaining charred embers.

In June 2023, the traditional fire-jumping ceremony of the Pa Then people was officially recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage by the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism.

Translated by Trung Thanh