Tourists and locals explore unique cuisine at the traditional Com De Festival.
According to the elders of the Muong region, this festival is associated with spiritual culture, beliefs, and legends about two brothers, Cun Ram and Dao Trac, who helped the King fight foreign invaders and save the people from drought. Therefore, the festival is meant to honor the deities, commemorate those who helped the Muong people, and pray for favorable weather, abundant harvests, and a prosperous and happy life for the villages.
Another folk legend about the Tet rice festival is also passed down through generations: Once upon a time, a general led his army to war, but unfortunately, he was defeated and wounded in battle. He and his entourage fled through the mountains and forests to the Yen Thuy region to seek shelter at a villager's house. Because the family was poor and had no food reserves, the homeowner boiled green squash, papaya, and bamboo shoots for the general and his entourage to eat. Afterwards, the homeowner suddenly remembered that he still had some rice simmering, intended for making rice wine during Tet, so he quickly brought it out and offered it to the general and his troops.
The Yên Thủy region was often plagued by drought. Out of compassion for the impoverished people and to show his gratitude, the general erected an altar to pray for rain. Miraculously, after the general finished his ritual, it rained, and the villagers rejoiced immensely. Since then, they have commemorated the day the general rested in Mường Rậm (October 26th of the lunar calendar each year). The offerings consist of ingredients from the general's meals, and the traditional rice dish is indispensable.
The feast in the "Com De" ceremony of families in the Muong Ram and Muong Trac regions must include "Com De" rice and some dishes that the generals used to eat: bamboo shoots, papaya, etc.
According to Mrs. Bui Thi Thuy from Ram hamlet, the offering tray for the De rice ceremony must be prepared from 3-4 am. Folk belief holds that the De rice ceremony must be performed before sunrise, as this time is considered sacred and coolest. The homeowner will invite a shaman to perform the ceremony, praying for favorable weather, a bountiful harvest, and family prosperity. After the ceremony, the whole family will gather around the Tet feast to eat and enjoy the blessings; from the elderly to the young, everyone takes a bowl of De rice for good luck and health.
To make sticky rice, families prepare several days in advance. The ingredients are glutinous rice, steamed and then mixed and fermented with yeast made from forest leaves. According to the Muong people here, to have delicious, sweet, and fragrant sticky rice, the selection of glutinous rice must be meticulous. The rice must be sticky mountain rice, the husks removed, and the rice thoroughly sifted before being soaked in water for 3-4 hours. After that, the rice is drained and steamed. When the rice is just cooked, it is transferred to a large basket to cool.
Before fermenting the rice, people usually sprinkle a little cooled boiled water on the rice to prevent the grains from sticking together. Then, they sprinkle yeast evenly over each layer of rice before placing it in a basket. The basket is lined with a layer of banana leaves to prevent the rice from absorbing the yeast and water from leaking out.
Rice that is fermented for two days in a basket is called "com de." At this time, families in Muong Ram and Muong Trac put the fermented rice into earthenware or porcelain jars, waiting for the right day of the festival to offer it to the village's guardian deity and ancestors, before inviting relatives, friends, and guests to eat it.
Women in Muong Ram - Yen Thuy commune cook rice in preparation for the traditional festival meal.
Nowadays, with improved economic conditions, the material and spiritual lives of the people in the Muong Ram and Muong Trac regions have been enhanced. The De Rice Festival is now more elaborate, with most families organizing feasts, slaughtering pigs and chickens, and preparing many delicious dishes to entertain guests. During these days, many children who are working and living far from home try to arrange their schedules to return and participate in the festival activities.
On the day of the Tet Com De festival, no one needs to invite anyone; guests come to visit on their own. This is because the locals believe that "uninvited guests are the most precious." Upon visiting, guests enjoy the delicious Com De rice, raise a glass of wine to inquire about each other's health, and share in the warm atmosphere of solidarity and kinship, experiencing the traditional culture of the Tet Com De festival. Everyone wishes each other a new year filled with positive changes, good health, and family happiness. The host reciprocates the guests' wishes, promising to return next year for a grander celebration.
Every year, along with the ceremonial activities in families, Lac Thuy commune organizes the traditional Com De Festival, featuring many cultural, artistic, sports , and folk game activities with rich and attractive content. This contributes to introducing, promoting, and attracting tourists to visit and experience, enhancing pride in the cultural identity of the Muong ethnic group, and encouraging all levels of the people to enthusiastically compete in labor, production, and learning to achieve socio-economic development goals and tasks, and jointly build an advanced new rural area.
Bui Minh
Source: https://baophutho.vn/doc-dao-nbsp-le-hoi-truyen-thong-com-de-244106.htm
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