Unique rain-praying festival of Thai ethnic people

The rain-praying festival, also known as the Xen Xo Phon festival, is associated with the customs and practices and production labor of the Thai ethnic group. To preserve and conserve this ritual, the Thai Cultural Club, Dan village, Chieng Sang commune, Yen Chau district, has organized a restoration and reenactment with the hope of praying for favorable weather and bountiful crops.

Me was busy with the group of people going to people's houses to ask for offerings.

Mr. Quàng Văn Bương, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Chieng Sang Commune, Yen Chau District, informed: The commune has 2 ethnic groups living together, Thai and Kinh, in which Thai people account for more than 73% of the commune's population. To preserve and promote the cultural identity of the Thai ethnic group, the commune has built an ethnic conservation house, established 2 Thai cultural clubs, maintained 8 village art troupes; organized classes to teach Thai script, scarf embroidery, and brocade weaving for the younger generation. At the same time, maintain and restore festivals, such as Han Khuong, Xen Lau No, Xen Xo Phon. In particular, the Xen Xo Phon festival is at risk of disappearing in the locality.

The procession carries the mascots and offerings to the place where the river and stream gods are worshiped.

Me was busy doing magic to give water to the trees at the beginning of the village.

The Thai ethnic group believes that gods control both wind and rain, because Pitying the children born without a father to build a house, he did not make rain, causing drought. Worried about crop failure and the threat of hunger, the villagers had to hold rain-praying ceremonies, worshiping the water, river, and stream masters to invite the gods to listen to people's wishes. The prayers and reproaches were passed down and condensed into prayers and games in the rain-praying festival.

The procession carried the mascot to the place of worship of the river god.

Ms. Hoang Thi Thoat, Head of the Thai Cultural Club in Dan village, Chieng Sang commune, said: The festival is usually held in the fourth lunar month every year, lasting half a day, including the ceremony and the festival. The ceremony to worship the gods who control the rain and sunshine does not contain superstitious elements but only borrows spiritual elements to teach people; the festival creates comfortable laughter toeducate personality and virtue so that people can reach the beauty of traditional ethics that the Thai people have.

Me was busy inviting the water and river owners to enjoy the offerings and pray for rain.

During the ceremony, the main role in the festival is Me mai (a widowed woman). The group of people and Me mai "carry the To Ngua (made from bamboo and paper symbolizing the dragon mascot) to the houses in the village to ask for offerings, such as: rice, vegetables, bamboo shoots, seeds, wine, and water. When they have enough offerings, the group of people carry the mascot to the worshiping location.

The offering tray includes: sticky rice, chicken, pork, bamboo shoots, betel, areca, seeds, white cloth, red cloth. Me Mai started to pray for rain with the content of inviting the water owner, the river owner to enjoy the offerings and listen to the wishes of the villagers to pray for rain. Next, the villagers let the "Tô Ngua" float down the river with the meaning of releasing animals, thanking the gods for sending rain, then lowered the offering tray and ate and drank together on the spot. After that, everyone divided into 2 groups of men and women wading into the water, standing face to face, competing to splash water on each other. When everyone was soaked, they went ashore. The group returned to the village, changed into new clothes and scarves, played con throwing, drank rice wine, beat drums, gongs, danced xoe and sang songs about love.

The ritual of releasing the "Ngo Bowl" on the river has the meaning of releasing life and thanking the gods for sending rain.

Thai ethnic people beat drums and gongs to pray for rain.

Thai ethnic people splash water with the wish for favorable rain, wind, and prosperity.

Hoang Thi Hue , Chieng Sang 2 village, Chieng Sang commune, confided: I am very happy to participate in the rain-praying festival. The festival helps me understand more about the customs and practices of my ethnic group. I hope to participate in more singing and Thai language classes to understand more about my roots, contributing to preserving and promoting national identity.

The rain-praying festival is a ritual that represents the traditional cultural beauty of the Thai ethnic group. This is also a community cultural festival that contributes to strengthening solidarity in the village, preserving and promoting the cultural values of ethnic groups in Son La .

Thu Thao

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