Visit Lai Chau to enjoy Bun Voc Nam Festival

On March 23, the 5th Bun Voc Nam Festival (Water Festival) in 2024 of the Lao people was held in Na Van village (Na Tam commune, Tam Duong district, Lai Chau), attracting a large number of people and tourists.

Bun Voc Nam Festival in Lai Chau attracts a large number of people and tourists.

Bun Voc Nam Festival consists of 2 parts: the ceremony and the festival. The ceremony will recreate the crop praying ceremony, rain praying ceremony, xoe dance and water splashing. The opening part of the ceremony is the ritual of worshiping the gods with offerings including: Pig, chicken, banh chung, wine, tea, sticky rice, sugar cane, banana, fruit, candy. After the offering is finished, the shaman begins the rituals of worshiping the gods.

At the end of this ceremony, the shaman stepped forward to give the order for the procession to go ask for rainwater to worship the Buddha statue in the temple. The procession went to ask for rainwater from families that had been selected by the village. These families had a bountiful harvest last year, prosperous business, and happy families.

Families in the village brought rainwater and stood on both sides of the road to splash water on the procession with the wish to contribute water to worship the Buddha statue and pray for a lucky new year, good health, and prosperity in business.

When the procession of water and flowers arrived at the temple. The shaman held two incense sticks and entered the temple to perform the incense offering ritual; then received the offerings from the village elders to offer to the temple.

When the ceremony is finished, the shaman allows the procession to enter the temple to offer flowers and water. The two flower offerings will be followed by a watering session until all the flowers are offered.

Next is the Buddha statue washing ceremony with the wish to purify and wash away all the dust of the world in the past year and pray for the newest and cleanest things in the new year. The shaman begins the rain-praying ceremony; then the whole procession goes around the temple 3 times and allows everyone to sing and dance in front of the temple.

Finally, delegates, tourists and people went to Nam Mu stream to join the water festival of the Lao people; praying for a new year of health, peace, bountiful harvests and good luck.

The Lao ethnic group in Tam Duong district is a community of people living mainly along streams, places with plenty of water, favorable for agricultural production. Although the population is not large, the cultural and spiritual life of the people here has many unique, rich and diverse features typical of the Lao ethnic group in the Northwest.

Since ancient times, Lao people have attached great importance to water, water is an essential need of human and all things. From that wish, Lao people have relied on "pha" and "din" (meaning heaven and earth) to pray for favorable weather, happiness for every family, and prosperity for all things. This is the origin of the Lao people's custom of praying for rain and is called Bun Voc Nam Festival or Water Festival.

The festival includes many activities that attract locals and tourists such as: Cultural exchange, stream fishing competition, raft racing, culinary competition, bamboo basket weaving competition, organizing folk games (throwing shuttlecock, catching feet, blindfolded gong beating, walking on a balance bridge...) imbued with the identity of the Lao people.

Coming from Vinh Phuc, tourist Nguyen Thi Nguyet said that she and her relatives had heard about the interesting Lao festival through friends, so they decided to participate this year. The festival atmosphere was very bustling and joyful. She was impressed with the costumes of the local people. It was very beautiful and elaborate. The elderly here even dyed their teeth black. There are many unique cultural features here worth experiencing.

Mr. Vang Van Keo, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Na Tam Commune, said that Na Tam is a commune with nearly 100% Lao ethnic people living there. The daily life of the people here has many unique cultural features that have been preserved to this day, including the Bun Voc Nam festival - a traditional ritual of the Lao people.

This festival is held annually to pray for favorable weather, good crops, and good health.

(according to VNA)

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