J'rai people worship the forest

On March 21, the J'rai ethnic people in O Grang village (Ia Pech commune, Ia Grai district, Gia Lai province) held a forest worship ceremony. This is a unique cultural ceremony with a humanistic philosophy about people living on forests and working together to protect forests and nature.

This year, O Grang village held a forest worship ceremony on a mountain about 5km from the village center, where there are large trees hundreds of years old. From early morning, people from O Grang and De Chi villages followed a small path into the forest. Here, all the rituals for the forest worship ceremony were carefully prepared by the villagers, from roast pig, grilled chicken, grilled meat, rice wine, etc.

Forest worship ceremony in O Grang village. Photo: Tuan Anh.

At exactly 10:30, in the presence of the villagers, local authorities and forest rangers of Ia Grai district, the forest worship ceremony officially began. On behalf of the villagers, village elder Siu Doih in brocade costume solemnly read the oath and thanked the Forest God and other gods for witnessing and protecting the villagers with favorable weather, lush vegetation, peace and prosperity. The village elder also promised the gods that he would work with the villagers to protect the forests in peace.

It is known that in Ia Pech commune, there are two villages bordering the forest, O Grang and De Chi, taking turns to perform the forest worship ceremony. After the forest worship ceremony, the villagers play folk games together and organize meals right in the forest. This is also a custom that the villagers have inherited for many generations and passed down to their descendants as a way to thank the forest god for helping the villagers have more livelihoods.

From early morning, people have prepared bamboo rice to treat guests. Photo: Tuan Anh.

Village elder Siu Doih said that through the forest worship ceremony, villagers hope that the forests here will help them have a more prosperous and happier life and especially develop the economy effectively under the forest canopy. “Through the forest worship ceremony, we also hope that our descendants will understand the value of the forest so that we can join hands to protect the forest, create livelihoods under the forest canopy, and help improve people's lives,” village elder Siu Doih shared.

Mr. Nguyen Anh Tuan, Deputy Head of the Ia Grai District Forest Protection Department, said that the forest worshiping ceremony of the J'rai ethnic group has many meanings, aiming to propagate and raise awareness of the importance of forests. Through the forest worshiping ceremony, people's awareness of forest protection is instilled. Thanks to that, in the past, there have been no cases of deforestation in the area.

Village elder Siu Doih carefully places a jar of rice wine at the location of the forest worship ceremony. Photo: Tuan Anh.

Mr. Ngo Khon Tuan, Chairman of Ia Pech Commune People's Committee, said that the forest worship ceremony is a traditional custom with many important meanings, aiming to promote the role of local people in forest management and protection. Therefore, over the past years, the forest management and protection work of the people of De Chi and O Grang villages has been implemented very well.

According to Mr. Tuan, every year the local government pays great attention and provides financial support to the people of O Grang and De Chi villages to participate in forest management and protection.

“In the coming time, we will continue to accompany the people of O Grang and De Chi villages to promote forest management and protection in the most effective way. At the same time, we also want to send a message to the younger generations to continue the tradition of forest management, protection, and planting according to the assigned plan,” Mr. Tuan shared.