The first forest worship ceremony of the year of ethnic minorities in Lao Cai

Tay people dance and sing during the forbidden forest worshiping ceremony in Hop Thanh commune.

It has become a tradition that every year, at the end of the spring festival season, ethnic minorities in Lao Cai start the new crop season, sowing spring rice and planting trees and reforesting.

There is a unique ritual to protect the ecological environment, create water for seasonal production during the year, and the custom of worshiping sacred forests and forbidden forests is indispensable...

Present very early at the forbidden forest worshiping ceremony in Hop Thanh commune, Lao Cai city, joining the crowd of people going to the ceremony, we excitedly participated in the worshiping rituals under the banyan tree of the village, together offering sacrifices to pray for a year of favorable weather, national peace and prosperity.

Every year, in the second lunar month, the Tay people in Hop Thanh commune choose a good day to perform the forbidden forest worshiping ceremony. This year, the forbidden forest worshiping ceremony was still solemnly held according to traditional customs. After worshiping the forest god, people organized folk games: tug of war, stick pushing, ball throwing, bamboo pole jumping, rice cake pounding competition... then took an oath together and participated in the spring tree planting ceremony.

Ms. Nong Thi Ha, Chairwoman of Hop Thanh Commune People's Committee, said: This is a good traditional custom of the Tay people, both to preserve the cultural beauty passed down by our ancestors and to educate and convey the message of protecting the forest, keeping the ecological environment green and attracting tourists.

Through the form of signing a commitment to protect forests by the whole community, cultural beauty will join hands to protect forests and local ecosystems more and more effectively.

Red Dao people prepare offerings on the day of the forest worship ceremony

In Bat Xat district, the sacred forest worshiping ceremony is also held by the Red Dao people in Den Sang hamlet, Den Sang commune on this occasion. According to the Red Dao people's belief, the worshiping ceremony is performed to pray for the forest god to bless and protect the whole village for a year of favorable weather, good crops, peace and health for every family, and fast-growing livestock; at the same time, it is also an opportunity to educate the Red Dao community about the awareness of forest protection, so that the forests will always be green.

Also on this occasion, the Mong people in Vinh Yen commune, Bao Yen district organized a forest worship ceremony according to local traditional customs. According to Mong people's customs, they chose the Dragon day in the second lunar month to organize the ceremony.

After the procession to the sacred forest of the village, the shaman or a prestigious person in the family or community will perform rituals to worship the forest god under the ancient tree.

Just like the Tay and Dao people in the highland villages of Lao Cai, the Mong people in Vinh Yen also bring offerings to the families in the village to participate in the forest worship ceremony, praying for good health for their families, favorable weather, and bountiful crops for the whole village.

Mong people hold forest worship ceremony in the second lunar month every year

After the ceremony, everyone had a meal together at the forest worshiping place, happily "receiving blessings" and wishing each other health, peace and luck.

Still a beautiful cultural feature, the forest worship ritual of the Mong people in Vinh Yen commune, in addition to its cultural and religious value, also has the meaning of passing on to descendants the beauty, preserving it for the future, and educating the entire community to raise awareness of forest protection.

Mr. Nguyen Si Hong, Head of the Department of Culture - Science and Information of Bao Yen district said: This year, with additional support from the National Target Program, the Department of Culture coordinated with the People's Committee of Vinh Yen commune to organize the forest worship ceremony.

Many Mong people in the area came to attend the festival, participated in traditional folk games (tug of war, stick pushing, spinning top, swallow fighting...), and signed a commitment to preserve the upstream forest, create water resources, and protect the local living environment.

The shaman offers offerings in the forest worship ceremony in Vinh Yen commune, Bao Yen district.

Not only having its own significance for each village community, the annual forest worship ceremony of ethnic minorities in the Lao Cai highlands is important in the religious life and has great value for the daily life of the people.

Since 2020, the forest worshiping ceremony of the Mong people in Simacai has been listed as a national intangible cultural heritage by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, further affirming the great significance of the forest worshiping ceremony of ethnic minorities in the area in protecting the forest.

According to Mr. Nguyen Viet Ha, Head of Lao Cai Provincial Forest Protection Department, on this occasion, forest rangers in Lao Cai province also organized sessions to integrate forest protection propaganda into forest worship ceremonies and signed commitments to protect forests with ethnic minority communities in localities.

At the same time, the village communities discussed and agreed on village covenants and forest protection regulations, implemented them together during the year, aroused solidarity, effectively developed the forest economy, and together built a homeland rich in cultural identity.

Source: https://bvhttdl.gov.vn/le-cung-rung-dau-nam-cua-dong-bao-cac-dan-toc-thieu-so-o-lao-cai-20250325081920111.htm