May 30, 2022 | 19:33 (GMT+7)
Unique Yang Potao Apui rain praying festival of Gia Lai people
PANO – Phu Thien district of Gia Lai province has held a Yang Potao Apui rain praying festival in Ayun Ha commune, which preserves the festival-related things, including sword, gongs, and Chu Tao Yang mountain.
With strong belief in the power of the Fire King and the magic sword, the rain praying ceremony has become a long-standing religious culture of people in Phu Thien district.
The rain praying ritual is conducted on the sacred mountain of Chu Tao Yang. As there was no successor to the throne after the 14th Fire King passed away in 1999, villagers of Plei Oi of Ayun Ha commune considered Ro Lan Hieo, an assistant to the 14th king, the substitute for the Fire King.
Therefore, at the peak of the dry season, Ro Lan Hieo represents the villagers to perform the ritual to pray for favorable weather and abundant crops.
This year, the Yang Potao Apui rain praying festival was organized in conjunction with the cultural and sports contest of ethnic minorities in a bid to popularize and promote local tourism.
|
|
Preparing offerings before rain praying festival |
|
|
A ritual conducted on Chu Tao Yang Mountain |
|
|
After rituals, local people play gongs, dance, and sing. |
|
|
Ethnic minority people’s handicrafts, such as bamboo and rattan and brocade weaving, introduced at the event |
Translated by Tran Hoai