The unique New Rice Harvest Festival of the K'Ho people

On December 15th, the People's Committee of Di Linh District ( Lam Dong Province ) organized a reenactment of the New Rice Harvest Festival at the traditional K'Ho ethnic village (Klong Trao 1 hamlet, Gung Re commune) with hundreds of participants, including 60 artisans and village elders from the local indigenous ethnic group.

The Nhô lir bong ceremony (New Rice Festival) was revived by the People's Committee of Di Linh District at the traditional K'Ho ethnic village.

The reenactment of the New Rice Harvest Festival is part of a series of activities organized by the People's Committee of Di Linh District, in response to the 10th Da Lat Flower Festival in 2024. The New Rice Harvest Festival is a long-standing custom of the ethnic minorities in the Central Highlands, especially the K'Ho S'Rê people in Di Linh District.

The village elders perform the necessary rituals to inaugurate the New Rice Harvest Festival.

This ritual is deeply rooted in animistic beliefs and represents a unique cultural identity. The significance of the festival lies in the fact that, following the rice cultivation cycle, after the harvest, the people of the Central Highlands often hold a ceremony to celebrate the new rice crop. This is both to thank Giàng (Yàng - the deity) for granting a bountiful harvest and a prosperous life; and also as an occasion for villagers to share joy, enjoy the fruits of their labor, and pray for a bountiful harvest in the following year.

The artisans performed a gong ensemble after the opening ceremony led by the village elder.

The New Rice Harvest Festival consists of a ceremonial part and a festive part. The ceremonial part is directly performed by respected village elders. At the central ceremonial pole, the village elders will pray to Yang (the spirits) to express their reverence and ask for the villagers to come together to celebrate a bountiful harvest.

Following the rituals of praying to Yang, performing the sacrifice, and the buffalo stabbing ceremony (currently only a simulated procedure), the opening of the jar ceremony involves offering wine to the deities and guests, and performing gong music with the songs Gung Me, Gung Ma ( Welcoming Guests ) and Nhu To Nom ( Drinking Rice Wine ).

The K'Ho ethnic minority women performed the xoang dance after the traditional ceremony concluded.

After the ceremonial part concludes, the village truly enters the festivities with gong duels, folk songs, and traditional dances performed by K'Ho boys and girls around the ceremonial pole. This is also the time when guests can socialize, immerse themselves in the captivating sounds and dances, and enjoy the intoxicating aroma of rice wine from the Central Highlands.

K'Ho mountain girls gracefully dance in the rain.

A joyful performance by K'Ho boys and girls during the New Rice Harvest Festival.

K'Ho mountain girls perform a traditional xoang dance to pray for favorable weather, gentle winds, and a bountiful harvest.

The dances are captivating.

A unique performance during the ceremony.

This performance concludes the New Rice Harvest Festival by the K'Ho boys and girls.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/dac-sac-le-mung-lua-moi-cua-nguoi-kho-185241215164834279.htm