Dakrong organizes Arieu Piing Festival of Pa Ko people

This morning, April 24, the People's Committee of Dakrong district organized the Arieu Piing Festival in La Hot village, A Bung commune. This is considered the biggest festival and carries the unique spiritual culture of the Pa Ko people.

Panorama of the sacrifice ceremony in the Ariêu Piing Festival held in La Hot village, A Bung commune, Dakrong district - Photo: Le Truong

The Ariêu Piing Festival, also known as the Pa Ko people's reburial ceremony, is held with the aim of bringing peace and respect to the deceased and praying for a stable and prosperous life for the villagers.

During the festival, the local people mobilize the whole community to rebury the deceased, rebuild and decorate the ancestral tombs, and consider this a common task for every family in the village. On the first day of the festival, people gather to build a house in the center - the place where the festival is held for distinguished guests to stay; a house called An Trap - where the ashes of the deceased are kept.

On the second day, there will be a buffalo stabbing festival, a gong cultural festival and traditional sports. On the last day, it is the day to express the spirituality of the people, because on that day, everyone will send off the souls of their ancestors to their final resting place.

Villagers dancing at the Ariêu Piing Festival - Photo: Le Truong

The Ariêu Piing Festival is usually held every 5-10 years, depending on the economic conditions of each region. This is a big festival, so every family in the village prepares offerings, food, and food to entertain distinguished guests. At the festival, gong dances are performed with traditional music of the Pa Ko people, attracting a large number of people to watch.

Through the festival, we aim to evoke the beauty of traditional culture and the unique quintessence of the Pa Ko people, thereby creating cohesion in the community, together building an increasingly prosperous and happy village.

The highlight of the Ariêu Piing Festival is the sacrifice ceremony (also known as the buffalo stabbing). This ceremony begins when a group of people gather in a circle around the Pa Roong field - where the poles are erected, used by families with deceased members to tie buffaloes and goats around to perform the sacrificial ritual.

Elder Ho Van Do, Head of La Hot Village, A Bung Commune, said that the Arieu Piing Festival has been around for a long time, and until now, people still maintain it but have made many changes to suit economic and social conditions. Another important part of the festival is the opportunity for people to sit together, discuss and find ways to solve problems related to both customs and life.

Le Truong

Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/dakrong-to-chuc-le-hoi-arieu-piing-cua-nguoi-dong-bao-pa-ko-185089.htm