Hanoi recreates unique ritual of Thai ethnic minority

The Vietnam National Villages for Ethnic Culture and Tourism is now hosting a series of cultural events to celebrate the upcoming Vietnamese Lunar New Year, which falls at the end of this month. This annual event aims to delight both locals and tourists visiting Hanoi for the Tet holiday, the most important traditional Vietnamese festival of the year.

Among the many activities, the Thai ethnic minority's New Rice Festival stands out as a highlight. This event attracts many tourists to Hanoi's popular cultural destination on weekends.

The Thai people are the second largest ethnic group in Vietnam, with an estimated 1.5 million members. They primarily reside in the northwestern regions of the country, including Son La, Mai Chau, Dien Bien, Lao Cai, and Lai Chau.

The New Rice Celebration is one of the most important cultural events of the year for the Thai people.

It is an agricultural practice that reflects the spiritual life of the community and their reverence for rice, an essential crop for their livelihood.

Typically held several weeks before the rice harvest, the ceremony is carefully timed by a shaman, who selects an auspicious day for the entire village to gather and celebrate.

The event is a time for families to offer the fruits of their labor to the gods and ancestors in prayer for good weather, bountiful harvests, good health and prosperity.

It also serves as a way to honor their ancestors, who have passed down valuable knowledge about rice cultivation.

During the ceremony, the shaman recites prayers on behalf of the family to thank the rice spirit and invite the spirits of their ancestors to share in the joy of the harvest.

The shaman also tells stories about the creation of the earth, the techniques of rice cultivation, and the efforts required to maintain the rice fields.

He thanks the spirits for providing the rice and encourages the community to work hard and unite for the benefit of both their work and their lives.

The New Rice Celebration varies from region to region, but generally preserves the rich cultural identity of the Thai people through its traditional rituals and the festive, lively atmosphere that defines the occasion.