Opening the forest, giving thanks to the great forest.

In early spring, many villages in the mountainous areas of Quang Nam province hold festivals to inaugurate the forest, the mountains, and the new year, giving thanks to the forest. These rituals are still preserved as a reminder of their origins, fostering awareness of forest protection and maintaining community traditions.

The people of Dai Binh village organize the Khai Son festival, praying for favorable weather, peace, and prosperity. Photo: PHAN VINH

Open the forest with a wish.

Starting from the 7th day of the first lunar month until now, in the communes of Que Phuoc and Nong Son, people in the villages have maintained the custom of offering sacrifices at Khai Truong - a folk ritual associated with the livelihood of those living in the mountains and forests.

Mr. Nguyen Hoai An (70 years old, Loc Tay village, Nong Son commune) said that the "Khai Truong" ceremony, also known as the "gateway to the forest," refers to the ritual of opening a path up the mountain. When residents living near the forest open a path to their fields and exploit forest products, they hold a ceremony every year to pray for peace and protection from wild animals and accidents while earning a living. According to old custom, no one in the village is allowed to enter the forest before the Khai Truong ceremony.

In Dai Binh village (Nong Son commune), the Mountain Opening Ceremony takes place on the 20th day of the first lunar month every year, organized by the village's ceremonial committee and people's committee. The main ceremony includes a ritual offering to ask for permission to open the mountain and forest gateways; this is followed by a festival and tea party.

Besides the Opening Ceremony, the beginning of the year in Dai Binh also includes many other rituals such as the ceremony at the beginning and end of the village, the ceremony at the ancestral temple, the ceremony at Ben Van... forming a series of spiritual activities throughout the month of January, conveying wishes for peace for the village, for the rivers and mountains, and for each household.

The people of Nghi Son village, Que Son Trung commune, perform the ritual of welcoming the village's tutelary deity and other revered gods from the Cam Mieu forest to the village temple. Photo: PHAN VINH

In Nghi Son village (Que Son Trung commune), the Mountain Opening Ceremony also takes place on the 8th day of the first lunar month. The ceremonial committee observes rules of vegetarianism, abstaining from certain foods, and maintaining purity for 7 days before the ceremony.

According to Mr. Ngo Cuu, the chief officiant of the festival, in the past, the villagers worshipped the mountain god at the "Ong 30" shrine in Cam Mieu forest. Later, the shrine was moved to Cay Bang communal house and also housed the shrines of the founding ancestors who established the village.

From the 15th century, the Âu, Dương, and Phùng clans settled and cultivated the Sơn Đào area, forming the Nghi Sơn community. The village's custom of protecting nearly 10 hectares of Cấm Miếu forest has been passed down through generations, becoming a shared commitment of the village.

“The Khai Son ceremony reminds descendants to remember their ancestors and reminds everyone to protect the sacred forest. The forest is where villages are sheltered, and it is a part of the community's memory,” Mr. Cuu said.

Thank you, vast forest.

Amidst the vast expanse of the Pơmu heritage forest, a cluster of rare ancient trees, Hung Son commune is urgently completing preparations for the 2026 New Year's Thanksgiving Festival. This is a New Year's event deeply rooted in the culture of the Co Tu people. Mr. Tangon Thieu, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Hung Son commune, said that all activities are being implemented according to plan, ensuring solemnity, safety, economy, and the preservation of traditional rituals.

Through the festival, Hung Son commune encourages people to participate in forest protection and prevent negative impacts on Mother Nature. (Photo: ALANG NGUOC)

In the lives of the inhabitants of the former highlands of Tay Giang (old), now Hung Son commune, the forest thanksgiving ceremony has been maintained through many generations. In the consciousness of the Co Tu people, the forest is the source of life, protecting the villages and supporting their livelihoods amidst the vast wilderness.

Since 2018, the annual ritual of giving thanks to the forest has been fully restored by the government in coordination with the village elders, becoming a familiar part of every spring, reminding the community of their origins and their responsibility to protect the forest.

Mr. Thieu informed that the festival will take place on April 4th and 5th, 2026, at the Pơmu Heritage Forest Ecotourism Village. The commune authorities have directed the upgrading and repair of the communal house, the construction of a worship house about 800m from the village, and the clearing of trails to serve delegates and tourists visiting the heritage tree.

"The organizing committee must work with village elders and respected individuals to ensure that the rituals are performed correctly according to Co Tu customs, avoiding any distortion of the original values," Mr. Thieu said.

During the main ceremony, a ceremonial pole is erected in the sacred area, and offerings include buffaloes, goats, pigs, chickens, and other traditional items. Villagers form a circle around the pole, beating gongs and drums, and performing the Tâng Tung Da Dá dance to the deities. The ceremony carries the hope for a bountiful harvest, peace in the village, and an awareness of managing and protecting the headwater forests.

Mr. Nguyen An, Secretary of the Party Committee of Hung Son commune, said: “The festival is an opportunity for the community to affirm its identity and long-term development orientation. When people view the forest as culture, as a livelihood, and as the future of their children, preserving the forest will become a shared responsibility, creating a foundation for the development of ecotourism associated with heritage conservation.”

Source: https://baodanang.vn/khai-truong-ta-on-dai-ngan-3325996.html