Sharing the water trough during Tet
Just a few dozen minutes after the villagers arrived at the waterfall at the foot of Ong Doan mountain (Hamlet 1, Tra Vinh commune, Nam Tra My district) to perform the ritual of worshipping the water trough, the first stream of water, mixed with pig's blood, flowed into the village.
In a joyful celebration, the Xê Đăng women, dressed in their traditional attire and holding bamboo tubes, took turns collecting cool, clear water, then carefully brought it home to store.
That spring water is used to cook the first meal of the new year. The Xê Đăng people believe that it is the purest spring water bestowed by the gods, bringing good fortune in life.
Therefore, after bringing the water pipes home, each household continued to hold a ceremony at home, signifying gratitude to the deities and praying for a peaceful new year, a bountiful harvest, and a prosperous life.
Ms. Ho Thi Huong, a resident of Ong Doan hamlet, said that according to the Xe Dang people's beliefs, the water trough worship ceremony (also known as the water trough festival) signifies a prayer for good fortune and blessings for the villagers.
Therefore, almost every year the local community organizes a village festival to worship the water trough, viewing it as an occasion to welcome the new year and pray for good fortune. This is a traditional custom passed down through generations, usually taking place at the transitional period between the old and new year.
“The Water Trough Festival is not only a traditional festival, but also an occasion for the Xê Đăng community to gather with family during the transition between seasons. Preserving this traditional festival for generations, through this unique water trough worship ritual, the Xê Đăng people believe in the blessings and protection of the spirits, especially the water god. Therefore, unless there is an unavoidable reason, no one is absent from this meaningful village festival that unites the community to welcome the new year,” Ms. Hương shared.
Alongside the rituals of worshipping the gods, the water trough festival features many typical cultural activities of the Xê Đăng people, such as erecting the New Year's pole, drum performances, and traditional folk games... attracting the participation and enthusiasm of the entire village community.
Besides the Xê Đăng people, many Ca Dong communities in Nam Trà My also organize traditional village festivals to celebrate the Lunar New Year, through rituals such as offering sacrifices to the water trough to pray for good fortune and blessings.
Aspiration for connection
At dawn on the first day of the Lunar New Year, after three resounding drumbeats of the k'thu drum, the village square of K'noonh (A Xan commune, Tay Giang district) was quickly filled with people. Following the ritual of offering sacrifices to the gods by the village elder, gongs and drums sounded, and the rhythmic tang tung and da da dances of the Co Tu people filled the air, celebrating the traditional village festival.
According to Mr. Zơrâm Cheo, head of K'noonh village, the festival takes place after the local people have finished harvesting the rice crop. To organize the village festival to celebrate the New Year, all members of the village participate in a spirit of community solidarity.
With contributions of labor and resources, a traditional village festival, complete with rituals, is recreated and maintained annually, creating a joyful New Year celebration for the Co Tu community in this remote border region adjacent to Laos.
Held regularly for many years, the traditional village festival of the Co Tu people in K'noonh village is considered a space for community bonding and celebration after a long year of hard work. It is also an occasion for the community to thank the deities for their protection and blessings of bountiful harvests and a prosperous life, and to pray for a new year of favorable weather, abundant crops, and good health for the villagers.
"The Co Tu people believe that all things have spirits. Therefore, this festival, in addition to welcoming the new year, is also an opportunity to thank the spirits for their support and blessings throughout the past year, enabling the people to have good health, work hard, and build a progressive and civilized life."
"Furthermore, the festival is also a gathering space for the community to summarize the past year, further strengthen the spirit of solidarity, and resolve to build a new life that is increasingly prosperous and comfortable," said Mr. Zơrâm Cheo.
After the ritual of offering sacrifices to the spirits before the ceremonial pole, groups of people streamed into the houses of the villagers. They beat drums and gongs, performed the tang tung and da da dances, and painted images of ca'bhay (devil masks) on their faces, hoping to ward off evil spirits and bad luck from the old year; at the same time, they wished the homeowners a prosperous and successful new year. This was also a message of unity that the Co Tu people hoped for during the first days of the Thanh Minh festival...
Source: https://baoquangnam.vn/tet-trong-niem-vui-hoi-lang-3148462.html
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