Special features of the New Rice Celebration of the K'Ho people

On December 15, the People's Committee of Di Linh District (Lam Dong) organized a re-enactment of the New Rice Celebration ceremony at the traditional village of the K'Ho ethnic group (Klong Trao 1 hamlet, Gung Re commune) with hundreds of participants, including 60 artisans and village elders who are indigenous people in the locality.

The Nhô lir bong (New Rice Celebration) ceremony was restored by the People's Committee of Di Linh District at the traditional village of the K'Ho ethnic group.

The program to recreate the New Rice Celebration Ceremony is part of a series of activities organized by the People's Committee of Di Linh District, responding to the 10th Da Lat Flower Festival in 2024. The New Rice Celebration Ceremony is a long-standing custom of the ethnic groups in the Central Highlands, especially the K'Ho S'Re people in Di Linh District.

Village elders perform the necessary rituals to open the New Rice Celebration ceremony.

This is a ritual imbued with animism and a unique cultural identity. The meaning of the festival is that following the rice cultivation cycle, after the harvest, the Central Highlands people often hold a new rice celebration ceremony, both to thank Giàng (Yàng - god) for giving them a good harvest and a prosperous life; at the same time, it is also an occasion for the villagers to rejoice together, enjoy the fruits of their labor, and pray for a bountiful harvest in the following year.

Artists perform gong ensemble after the opening ceremony by the village elder

The New Rice Celebration includes a ritual and a festival. The ritual is directly performed by prestigious village elders in the community. At the central pole, the village elder will pray to Yang (the god) to express his respect and ask for the "village" to come together to celebrate the bountiful harvest.

After the rituals of praying to Yang, performing the sacrifice ceremony, and the buffalo stabbing ritual (currently only performing simulations), the khai choe procedure is the part of inviting wine to the gods and guests and performing gong music with the songs Gung Me, Gung Ma ( Welcoming guests ) and Nhu To Nom ( Drinking wine ).

Xoang dance performance by K'Ho mountain women after the traditional ceremony

After the ceremony, the village really gets into the festival with gong performances, folk singing, and xoang dances by K'Ho boys and girls around the pole. This is also the time when visitors can interact, immerse themselves in the sounds, passionate dances, and the intoxicating aroma of the Central Highlands' wine.

K'Ho mountain women gracefully dance in the rain

A joyful performance by K'Ho boys and girls during the New Rice Celebration

K'Ho mountain women with a traditional xoang dance praying for favorable weather, good wind, and bountiful crops

Dances that captivate people

A unique performance at the ceremony

The performance ended the New Rice Celebration ceremony by K'Ho boys and girls

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/dac-sac-le-mung-lua-moi-cua-nguoi-kho-185241215164834279.htm