Outside , the air was filled with laughter and chatter; relatives and villagers had gathered to celebrate and witness the sacred moment of the two brothers' coming-of-age. Everyone was dressed in traditional attire, their faces radiant with reverence as they followed each sacred ritual.
The initiation ceremony lasts a day and a night with many rituals, of which the lamp-giving ritual is one of the central parts.
As the lamp-bestowing ceremony began, each lamp was lit, illuminating the face of the person being ordained. Dung and Tuan's eyes shone with emotion.
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| The lamp-offering ceremony was conducted solemnly. |
Mr. Tuan shared that his family used to live in Hamlet 3, Quang Phu Commune, but in 1975 they moved to Dong Nai Province to start a new life. Although he is 43 years old, this is the first time he has received the ordination, due to the hierarchical order in his family lineage. “When I heard it was my turn to receive the ordination, I was overjoyed and immediately arranged my work to return to the ancestral temple. The feeling of excitement and anticipation was indescribable. Sitting before the altar, I felt the spirits and ancestors witnessing my sincerity. The light from the sacred lamp not only illuminated my path but also reminded me to live a life worthy of my family and my people. At the end of the ceremony, I will have a ordination name, the right to worship my ancestors, participate in community affairs, and be protected by the spirits,” Mr. Tuan expressed.
In the spiritual life of the Dao ethnic group, the coming-of-age ceremony not only marks maturity but also affirms the virtue, intelligence, and status of each man in the community. |
For Dung, this was his second time receiving the ceremony. Although he was no longer unfamiliar with it, he was still filled with mixed emotions and joy. After the ceremony, he was qualified to become a shaman, performing the community's religious rituals, including the initiation ceremony.
According to Mr. Tang Duc Huong from Hamlet 5, Quang Phu Commune, who has been involved with the initiation ceremony for over 30 years, in the spiritual life of the Dao ethnic group, the initiation ceremony not only marks maturity but also affirms the virtue, wisdom, and status of each man in the community. The initiation ceremony consists of several levels of lamps: at the first level, the person is given 3 lamps, marking maturity; level 7 lamps are for shamans who have undergone training, and 12 lamps is the highest level, symbolizing wisdom, morality, and prestige. However, nowadays, the Thanh Phan Dao people in Dak Lak rarely perform the 12-lamp initiation ceremony because there are almost no shamans capable of performing the ceremony at this level left.
The content of the rituals all share a common purpose and meaning: reverence for one's origins, upholding moral principles, and nurturing a belief in goodness. In the hearts of the Dao people, the initiation ceremony is a distinctive cultural feature, a source of pride and a valuable cultural and religious heritage.
Having lived in the red basalt soil for over half a century, the Dao Thanh Phan community in Quang Phu commune still preserves the coming-of-age ceremony as a way to affirm their identity, preserve traditions, and maintain their roots in their second homeland.
Source: https://baodaklak.vn/van-hoa-du-lich-van-hoc-nghe-thuat/202511/gin-giu-anh-sang-den-thieng-2060062/
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