(Baonghean.vn) - The Khmu people's rice field worshiping ceremony takes place on rice fields. This ceremony is to thank the gods who control the fields, forests, streams and trees for blessing them with bountiful crops and healthy people and livestock.
Before celebrating the new rice harvest, the Khmu people in Tuong Duong and Ky Son districts have the custom of worshiping the fields. The Khmu people in Bao Thang commune (Ky Son) are no exception.
Before the harvest season begins, people choose an auspicious day to worship the fields. According to shaman Cut Van Huong, resident of Cham Puong village - Luong Minh - Tuong Duong, this ceremony is different from the new rice celebration because it is for the field ghosts, while the new rice celebration is for the ancestors. Another difference is that the field worship ceremony is held right at the field guard hut, while the new rice celebration is held at home in the village community.
During the field worship ceremony, the Khmu people in Bao Thang set up two altars right next to the field huts, on the rice fields. Each altar is decorated with rice flowers. In addition, there are about 10 rings and a cicada, all woven from bamboo. The offering trays placed on the altars initially include skirts, shirts, fabrics... at the foot of each altar are tied a pair of chickens and two jars of rice wine. The master of ceremonies is usually a shaman who is knowledgeable about customs, understands the prayers thoroughly and is believed to be able to communicate with ghosts and gods...
The field worship ceremony is also very popular in the Thai community in Nghe An, but the organization and offerings are different in each region.
Some pictures of the field worship ceremony of the Khmu people (Ky Son):
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| The watchtower on the field is the space where the field worship ceremony takes place. |
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| Members performing the rice field worship ceremony prepare two altars, one high, one low, with rice fields hanging around them. |
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| Skirts and clothes are also must-have offerings on the offering tray. |
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| The shaman is performing a ritual to summon the spirit of the field. There is no boiled chicken on the offering tray yet. The shaman needs to ask the spirit of the field if it is satisfied before slaughtering it. |
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| When the spirit of the field agreed, the chicken was slaughtered. |
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| Women are responsible for preparing the "moọc" dish, which is one of the indispensable offerings in the worship ceremony. |
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| Besides mooc dish, rice wine is also an indispensable offering. |
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| Food is served on banana leaves. |
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| From the fields, after the rice offering ceremony, the rice will be brought home to prepare for the new rice ceremony. |
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| And finally, the party atmosphere of the participants in the field worship ceremony |
You Wei
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