(Baonghean.vn) - Xang khan is considered a 'graduation' ceremony for shamans to advance to the next level. To reach the highest level, a shaman must organize 12 Xang khan ceremonies, each 3-5 years apart.
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| Xang Khan, the most unusual festival of the Thai community, is considered as a shaman's elevation ceremony. Not only that, it is also a spiritual festival of the whole community, even though it takes place at the shaman's house. |
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| On the days before the Dinh Dau New Year, in Muong Hinh village, Dong Van commune, Que Phong district (Nghe An), there is a Xang Khan festival organized by shaman Vi Van Dien. This is the first time the 45-year-old shaman has performed Xang Khan. |
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| According to an unwritten rule, every 3-5 years each shaman can hold a gas khan. This can be called a “graduation” ceremony of a shaman. After this ceremony, the shaman will be promoted to a level and these levels have no specific names. In his career, a shaman can hold a gas khan 12 times. |
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| The Gas Station is like a miniature model of the world including people and things that are the center of the holiday. |
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| The iconic flower tree that gives the festival its name is intricately and elaborately crafted. |
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The flowers are crafted and colored so vividly that they are full of art. |
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| The Xang Khan tree itself is a perfect work of art, a pinnacle of Thai community art. |
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| According to Mr. Vi Van Dien, the host of the Xang Khan festival in Muong Hinh village, it takes half a month to make a Xang Khan tree and the cost of materials can be up to several million VND. In the photo is the scene of setting up the Xang Khan tree before the ceremony. |
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| Participating in the ceremony is a council of shamans. According to the rules, there are 4 shamans participating in Mr. Dien's first Xang Khan Ceremony. In the photo, the shaman in charge of the ceremony, Vi Van Dien, dances around the Xang Khan tree, an ancient ritual. |
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| This 'band' can only be found in the Gas Khan club. |
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| The offerings for the Xang Khan Ceremony look quite unique with things like skirts, shirts, sticky rice, etc. The shaman's friends sit with the celebrant throughout the prayer for the shaman, everyone in the family and the village to be healthy. |
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| The ceremony lasts for one day and during that time there must be enough food for the shamans and the people attending. Therefore, the serving team, which is mainly made up of women, must stay up all night to cook the feast. |
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| The shamans drink wine after the ceremony. This marks the end of the ceremony. |
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| After the ceremony, the shamans had fun with the villagers and guests. Shamans in Muong Hinh village said that in the past, each Xang Khan ceremony was very expensive because it lasted 2 or 3 days. According to shaman Dien, the first Xang Khan ceremony cost his family 17 million VND. During the ceremony, he had to slaughter 200 kg of pigs and 18 jars of rice wine. |
Ho Phuong - Huu Vi
