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The unique New Year's thunder-welcoming ceremony of the O Du ethnic group.

Dinh Tuan • March 15, 2025 13:54

For the O Du community in Van Mon village, Nga My commune, Tuong Duong district, the New Year's thunder-welcoming ceremony is the oldest and most sacred custom. Although no one remembers exactly when the ceremony originated, it has been preserved and passed down from generation to generation, becoming an indispensable ritual in the cultural life of the O Du people, one of the five smallest ethnic groups in Vietnam.

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According to the elders of the O Du people in Van Mon village, Nga My commune (Tuong Duong district), the first thunderclap of the year signals the arrival of a new year, and the O Du people will hold a celebration. Before the ceremony, they must prepare a feast to inform and ask permission from the local deity. In the photo: The ritual of informing and asking permission from the local deity. Photo: Dinh Tuan
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After informing the local deities and seeking their blessings, the ceremony to welcome the thunder will be held. In the photo: People are carrying trays of offerings to the thunder god and their ancestors. Photo: Dinh Tuan
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Shaman Lo Van Cuong, from Van Mon village, Nga My commune, Tuong Duong district (the person wearing black attire standing in the middle) said: "The O Du people mainly live by farming, hunting, and livestock breeding. In the old days, there was no calendar or clock. The people calculated the time of the year starting from the first thunderclap. Therefore, the ceremony celebrating the first thunderclap of the year is an indispensable ritual for the O Du people. To perform the ceremony, people must prepare two trays of offerings: one tray to worship the thunder god and ancestors, and one tray for the village's ancestral worship ceremony, tying threads around the wrists." Photo: Dinh Tuan
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The offering tray for the thunder god and ancestors includes: pig's head, fish maw, rat maw, grilled fish, sticky rice, wine... and, of course, rice wine. (Photo: Dinh Tuan)
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The feast prepared for the ancestral worship ceremony includes: boiled chicken, sticky rice, and other dishes... Photo: Dinh Tuan
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After the ceremonies are completed, the elders will partake in the offerings first, followed by their descendants. Photo: Dinh Tuan
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One of the indispensable rituals in the celebration of welcoming the thunderclap is the ceremony of tying threads around wrists to pray for good health and peace for everyone in the new year. Photo: Dinh Tuan
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After the ceremonial part, the festivities begin with lively group activities such as singing, dancing, and playing traditional games. Mr. Lo Van Thai, head of Vang Mon village, Nga My commune, said: “The ceremony of welcoming the sound of thunder is an indispensable ritual of the O Du ethnic group. Every year it is held on a small scale at individual households, but every three years or so the village organizes a larger-scale event with the participation of all villagers.” (Photo: Dinh Tuan)
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The New Year's Thunder Festival is also an occasion for the O Du people to express their wishes for their ancestors to bless their descendants with good health, community unity, and a prosperous new year with abundant harvests. The Thunder Festival is a beautiful cultural tradition of the O Du community, and it needs to be preserved and promoted to foster community tourism development, contributing to sustainable poverty reduction for this ethnic group found only in Tuong Duong (Nghe An). Photo: Dinh Tuan
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        The unique New Year's thunder-welcoming ceremony of the O Du ethnic group.
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