The Mong people in Nghe An perform a ceremony and pay with pork.

(Baonghean.vn)- The Mong people in Nghe An highly respect shamans. They often invite shamans to perform rituals on important occasions and pay them with pork.

The Xong clan in Huoi Nhao Village (Nam Can Commune - Ky Son, Nghe An) has just invited shamans to organize a worship ceremony and a lively meal. Unlike the worship ceremonies of each family, the village worship ceremony is organized on a large scale and must have 3-4 shamans to perform the ceremony.

According to village elder Xong Va Tu, before that, the elders in the clan would choose or hire a shaman to perform the worship ritual. According to Mong customs, there must be four shamans. In the concept, shamans are people who understand the voices of the souls of the deceased, understand the voices of the gods.

A shaman performs a ceremony in a Mong family. Photo: Dao Tho.

The four shamans for the Xong clan this time each have a different task. Three shamans will perform a ritual on the first two days to gather the souls of the deceased of each household to the head of the clan’s house. These souls, through the shaman, will tell the bad things, the unlucky things of the old year. Each shaman will perform a ritual for a certain number of households. On the last day, the fourth shaman performs a ritual to send those bad, unlucky things away, not to let them affect the village’s children, and at the same time pray for a peaceful, happy and lucky life to come.

A shaman performs a ceremony at a Mong wedding. Photo: Dao Tho

Not only for family worship ceremonies, but also for ceremonies like naming ceremonies or weddings, families have to hire a shaman to come to their home. The main food in these ceremonies is usually a large pig raised in the family and slaughtered. And of course, after the ceremony, the shaman gets a portion of the pig's meat as a reward.

Mr. Vu Chong Di in Huoi Giang 2 village (Tay Son commune) said that shamans play a very important role in the spiritual life of the Mong people. To practice, they must be chosen by the gods and understand the voices of the deceased. Shamans of the Thai ethnic group are all well-trained, but for the Mong people, only those who have the phenomenon of being possessed by gods are recognized.

The meat reserved for the Mong shaman. Photo: Dao Tho

It can be said that this is the unique spiritual culture of the Mong people in Nghe An. However, the practice of organizing long-term worship that has caused waste for a long time is also being gradually reduced.

Dao Tho