Watch the Ba Na people reenact the rain-praying ceremony in the dry season of the Central Highlands

Nghi thức lấy nước vào bầu khô với mong muốn nguồn nước luôn dồi dào, tuôn chảy - Ảnh: BỒNG SƠN — The ritual of pouring water into a dry gourd with the wish that the water source will always be abundant and flowing - Photo: BONG SON

The Center for Culture - Information and Sports of Dak Doa district (Gia Lai province) has just coordinated with the People's Committee of K'Dang commune to restore the rain-praying ceremony of the Ba Na people at the water drop area of Hnap village.

Pray for favorable weather

According to local authorities, this is an activity to preserve and promote cultural identity in the community.

Especially maintaining traditional rituals associated with the productive labor of the Ba Na people.

The Ba Na people's rain-praying ceremony is usually held in mid-April and May every year, to pray for favorable weather and wind, starting a new successful crop season.

This is also a unique ritual, creating the diverse cultural identity of indigenous peoples.

From early morning, when the first rays of sunlight appeared behind the mountains, the people of Hnap village gathered at the water drop area to prepare for the worship ceremony.

The village elders, consisting of respected elders, dress in traditional costumes and decorate the pole. Offerings are prepared, including jar wine, chicken, and pork, placed on a tray of green banana leaves to offer to the gods.

Hội đồng già làng thực hiện các nghi lễ cúng cầu mưa - Ảnh: BỒNG SƠN — The village elders council performs rain-praying rituals - Photo: BONG SON

Bring rain to irrigate the fields

When all the offerings and preparations were complete and ready, the village elders slowly proceeded with the ceremony.

The village elder, with his voice, sometimes deep, sometimes high, resounding throughout the space, recited a prayer inviting the mountain gods (Yang Kong) and the water gods (Yang Dak) to witness the villagers' sincerity.

"Oh gods! We offer these offerings, praying that you will always protect everyone in the village to have good health to work and produce.

"I pray that the gods will bring rain to irrigate the fields and farms, for the trees to flourish, for the crops to be bountiful, and for the villagers to be well-fed" - the village elder Uncle Ho prayed.

When the ceremony ended, the women in the village performed the ritual of pouring water into a dry gourd at the village's water drop with the wish that the water source would always be abundant and flowing.

After that, everyone enjoyed rice wine together, shared stories about the village, business... The laughter was loud and cheerful.

For the Ba Na ethnic community, the rain-praying ceremony is a ritual that both shows the villagers' devotion to the gods and demonstrates solidarity and unity among village members, creating community strength.

The rain-praying ceremony of the Ba Na people is not only a ritual, but also a reminder of the close connection between humans and nature, between tradition and modernity.

This is a valuable cultural heritage that needs to be preserved and cherished, contributing to the colorful cultural picture of Vietnam.

Preserving Ba Na culture

Mr. Dinh Ong - Vice Chairman of Dak Doa District People's Committee - said that the restoration of the rain-praying ceremony aims to preserve and promote the unique cultural values of the Ba Na people in Hnap village in particular and in Dak Doa district in general, thereby helping people to be aware of preserving the heritage and continuing to develop in the community.

Từ sáng sớm, nhiều dân làng đã tập trung về nơi thực hiện nghi lễ cầu mưa - Ảnh: BỒNG SƠN — From early morning, many villagers gathered at the place to perform the rain-praying ritual - Photo: BONG SON

Bà con làng Hnap chuẩn bị những món ăn truyền thống cho lễ cầu mưa - Ảnh: BỒNG SƠN — People of Hnap village prepare traditional dishes for the rain-praying ceremony - Photo: BONG SON

Giọt nước của làng luôn là nơi tập trung nhiều hoạt động trong đời sống hằng ngày của người dân tộc thiểu số bản địa - Ảnh: BỒNG SƠN — The village's water drop is always the place where many activities in the daily life of indigenous ethnic minorities are concentrated - Photo: BONG SON

Người Ba Na quan niệm nước là mạch nguồn của sự sống nên lễ cầu mưa rất quan trọng - Ảnh: BỒNG SƠN — The Ba Na people believe that water is the source of life, so the rain-praying ceremony is very important - Photo: BONG SON

Praying for rain but a bit too much

In the hot summer, a man set up an altar to pray for rain to cool off, but then suddenly changed his mind, making the sky angry and complaining, "The sun doesn't like it, and the rain doesn't like it either!"

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