Regarding the Thai version, people are eagerly awaiting news about spirit summoning rituals.

(Baonghean.vn) - The custom of "making the spirit" is a unique cultural and religious feature, reflecting the Thai ethnic community's belief in the spiritual world. This custom is still preserved by the Thai people in western Nghe An province.

Watch the video of the ritual:

We visited the home of Mr. Vi Van Dong in Diem village, Chau Khe commune (Con Cuong district) on the very day his family was holding a memorial service for his mother, Mrs. Vi Thi Lan (70 years old). In the main hall of the stilt house, offerings were laid out, including sticky rice, chicken, pork, and wine. The shaman sat in front performing the ceremony, surrounded by his children, grandchildren, and close relatives.

Mr. Dong said that recently, Mrs. Lan had been frequently ill and had to be hospitalized for nearly two weeks. She was discharged from the hospital a few days ago, and the family agreed to hold a memorial service to encourage her and help her regain her spirits so she can live happily and healthily with her children and grandchildren. Therefore, today, her children, grandchildren, and relatives from near and far arranged their schedules to attend the memorial service.

The spirit-calling ceremony concludes with the ritual of tying threads around the wrists. Photo: Cong Kien

This is essentially a celebratory ceremony where the shaman, his descendants, and relatives pray for good fortune. Therefore, attendees usually bring gifts such as chickens, sticky rice, cakes, or a small amount of money. After the ceremony, everyone gathers around a meal, raising their glasses in celebration, bringing joy to the host family.

The ritual concludes with tying threads around the wrist. The black threads are tied around Mrs. Lan's wrist by her descendants, symbolizing their wish that her soul will remain closely connected to her body, preventing her soul from wandering away and keeping her free from illness and disease.

According to shaman Vi Van Duyen, like many other ethnic groups, the Thai people believe that human existence consists of two closely related parts: the physical body and the soul (spirit). Sometimes, for some reason, the soul separates from the body, so a ritual is performed to call the soul back. Therefore, during the ritual, it is essential to place the garment (symbolizing the soul) next to the offering tray so that the soul can find its way back.

The black threads were tied around Mrs. Lan's wrist by her grandchildren, with the wish that she would always be healthy and live happily with her family members. Photo: Cong Kien

Thai people often hold ceremonies to summon the spirit of a newborn child or the death of a family member. In addition, ceremonies are held when a daughter gets married, when someone who has been away returns home, after an accident, illness, or childbirth. The purpose of these ceremonies is to call back the wandering spirit, whether it's by the riverbank, stream, deep in the forest, or in another land, to return to its physical body.

For those nearing death, meaning their soul will permanently leave their body, families organize a ceremony to ensure the soul doesn't get lost and can find its way back to its ancestors in another realm. This is a way for descendants to show filial piety to their parents and grandparents; and for the village to bid farewell to a loved one, allowing the soul to depart peacefully and gently.

Regarding the custom of "making the soul" among the Thai people, Mr. Lo Xuan Hoc, Vice Chairman of the Chau Khe Commune People's Committee, said: "The 'making the soul' custom is essentially a way for families, siblings, and relatives to encourage and uplift the spirit of the person being honored, helping them overcome misfortunes in life, and showing mutual concern among community members. This is also a way to strengthen the solidarity and bonds between relatives and villagers."

Cong Kien