Unique Forest Worship Ceremony of Jrai People

According to tradition, every March, the government and people of Ia Pech commune (Ia Grai district, Gia Lai province) hold a forest worshiping ceremony to thank the forest god for protecting the villagers, blessing them with favorable weather, good harvests. This year's ceremony was held at Ia Co stream, Ograng village, with the participation of local authorities, forest rangers, commune police and a large number of people.

Before the ceremony, young men in the village and forest protection forces entered the forest area to clear and clean the vegetation and choose the cleanest water source for the ceremony. The offerings were carefully prepared by the villagers, all of which were solemnly placed in the sacred corner of the forest designated by the village elder.

Chú thích ảnh — Sacrificial offerings are prepared in the Forest Worship Ceremony.

In the sacred forest, village elder Siu Doih (born in 1947) - the master of ceremonies, and his successor solemnly read prayers in the Jrai language. After the prayers, the village elder poured jar wine to invite the gods and shared the offerings with everyone. People enjoyed jar wine and grilled meat together right in the middle of the sacred forest, in a solemn and cozy atmosphere.

The forest worship ceremony not only reflects the beliefs of the Jrai people but is also an effective way to raise awareness of forest protection. Mr. Nguyen Anh Tuan, Deputy Head of the Ia Grai District Forest Protection Department, said that the natural forest assigned to the Ograng and De Chi villages, Ia Pech commune to manage covers an area of 568 hectares. After the forest worship ceremony, people no longer cut down forests or hunt wild animals, but actively participate in forest protection contracts, harvest bamboo shoots and honey to improve their lives.

Chairman of Ia Pech Commune People's Committee Ngo Khon Tuan emphasized: The forest worship ceremony is an indispensable part of the spiritual and cultural life of the Jrai people. This is not only an opportunity to perform rituals with supernatural beings but also shows the spirit of attachment to the forest and nature of each person. People have been well aware and joined the local government in protecting the forest. The local government always encourages everyone to preserve this traditional beauty and do a good job of protecting the forest.

Mr. Nguyen Dinh Dai (born in 1990, residing in Pleiku city) shared that he was introduced to the Jrai forest worship ceremony by his friends, so he was eager to participate. The space of the majestic old forest, the sacred ritual, everyone was sociable and united. This is a special cultural feature that needs to be preserved.

The Jrai forest worship ceremony is not only a spiritual ritual but also a testament to indigenous knowledge in forest protection. For generations, the Jrai people have had strict regulations such as not encroaching on the worship forest, not hunting or exploiting in sacred areas. This is how the Jrai people preserve the forest, considering it an inseparable part of life.

The local government and people hope that the forest worship ceremony will continue to be maintained, not only to preserve traditional culture but also to preserve valuable resources for future generations.

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