About Thai village to 'listen' to the story of calling the soul

(Baonghean.vn) - The custom of making a soul offering is a unique cultural and religious feature, reflecting the concept of the spiritual world of the Thai ethnic community. This custom is still preserved by the Thai people in Western Nghe An.

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We visited Vi Van Dong's house in Diem village, Chau Khe commune (Con Cuong) on ​​the day the family held a memorial service for Vi Thi Lan (70 years old, Dong's mother). In the middle of the main room of the stilt house, a tray of offerings was 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 has been sick frequently and had to be hospitalized for nearly 2 weeks. She had just been 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 spirit to live happily and healthily with her children and grandchildren. So today, her children and grandchildren and relatives from near and far arranged their work to attend the memorial service.

The ceremony of calling the spirit ends with the ritual of tying a thread around the wrist. Photo: Cong Kien

This is essentially a celebration, where the shaman and his descendants and relatives pray for good things. Therefore, attendees often bring gifts such as chicken, sticky rice, cakes or some money. After the ceremony, everyone gathers around the dinner table, raises a glass of wine to celebrate, bringing joy to the host.

The ceremony ended with the tying of a thread around her wrist. The black threads were tied to Mrs. Lan's wrist by her children and grandchildren to convey the wish that her soul would forever be attached to her body, that her soul would no longer travel far away so that she would not be sick or ill.

According to shaman Vi Van Duyen, like many other ethnic groups, the Thai people believe that human existence consists of two closely connected parts: the body and the soul. Sometimes, for some reason, the soul leaves the body, so a ceremony must be held to call the soul back. Therefore, when performing the ceremony, it is necessary to place a shirt (representing the part) next to the offering tray so that the soul can return.

Black threads were tied around Mrs. Lan's wrist by her children and grandchildren, wishing her good health and a happy life with her family members. Photo: Cong Kien

Thai people often organize a soul ceremony when a child is born and when a relative in the family dies. In addition, the soul ceremony is also organized when a daughter returns to her husband's house, someone who has been away from home returns, has an accident, is sick, and women after giving birth. The purpose of the soul ceremony is to call the wandering soul, on the riverbank, stream bank, deep forest or in the land of others, back to the body.

For those who are about to die, meaning their soul will forever leave their body, the family organizes a funeral so that the soul does not get lost and can find its way back to ancestors and grandparents in another world. This is a way for children and grandchildren to show their gratitude to their parents and grandparents; the village bids farewell to a loved one, so that the soul can depart peacefully and gently.

Discussing the Thai people's custom of making a soul, Mr. Lo Xuan Hoc - Vice Chairman of Chau Khe Commune People's Committee said: "Making a soul is essentially the family, brothers, and relatives' responsibility to encourage and motivate the person whose soul is made, helping them overcome disasters in life, showing mutual concern among members of the community. This is also a way to strengthen the solidarity and attachment of relatives and villages."

Cong Kien