The sacred 12-lamp coming-of-age ceremony in the "Gold Mine" of the highlands

NDO - In the mountainous forest of Mo Vang commune, Van Yen district, Yen Bai province, many traditional cultural features of the Red Dao people are still preserved and passed down, typically the coming-of-age ceremony - an important ritual marking the maturity of men. This is also a symbol of the enduring vitality of cultural identity in the midst of modern life.

The coming-of-age ceremony is a mandatory spiritual ritual in the life of the Red Dao people, especially for men aged 10 and above. According to folk beliefs, only after being granted the coming-of-age ceremony, will a man be recognized as a descendant of Ban Vuong - the ancestor of the Dao people, qualified to set up an ancestral altar, practice rituals, act as a shaman and play a spiritual role in the community.

The coming-of-age ceremony is a traditional, long-standing ritual. (Photo: VU LINH)

Earlier this year, in Khe Hop village (Mo Vang commune), for the first time, the 12-lamp initiation ceremony was held on a large scale for 62 couples, demonstrating the spirit of solidarity and awareness of preserving the culture of the whole community.

Not just a personal ceremony, the coming-of-age ceremony here is collective, with members from every clan participating, creating a large festival space lasting 3 days and nights with all the traditional rituals restored in their original form.

The first 12-lamp coming-of-age ceremony was held for 62 couples. (Photo: VU LINH)

To prepare for the coming-of-age ceremony, many months in advance, the ordination candidate and his family must strictly adhere to the taboos: no killing, no cutting down trees, and vegetarianism. The homeowner will invite shamans who are elderly, experienced, and well-versed in traditional rituals to take on the role of leading the ceremony. According to strict regulations, the 12-lamp coming-of-age ceremony must have 13 shamans symbolizing the balance of yin and yang, leading the ordination candidate through all levels of sacred space.

Shamans are people who understand the steps of the ritual. (Photo: VU LINH)

The ceremony space is held in a large area, the ceremony house is large and solemn. In the middle is the Ban Vuong altar, surrounded by folk paintings depicting the guardian gods of the Dao people. Each painting has its own spirit. These images not only express a rich spiritual worldview but are also a unique folk art heritage, passed down through many generations.

Gods according to the beliefs of the Red Dao people in Mo Vang commune. (Photo: VU LINH)

During the coming-of-age ceremony, men sit on one side and women on the other, wearing their most beautiful traditional costumes, which they have embroidered themselves and prepared months in advance.

Men and women sit separately during the coming of age ceremony. (Photo: VU LINH)

This is not only an occasion to mark the maturity of the husband but also a time to affirm the lifelong bond between husband and wife. When the ceremony is completed, in the spirit world, they are officially recognized as a couple with fate, happy bond, and responsibility to their ancestors and both families.

A woman wearing traditional costume during the coming-of-age ceremony. (Photo: VU LINH)

The initiation ceremony is not simply a religious ceremony but also a vivid expression of the indigenous cultural knowledge system, crystallized in each prayer, each dance, each ritual movement, each embroidered cloth, the art of paper cutting...

Dances in the coming-of-age ceremony. (Photo: VU LINH)

The 3-lamp and 7-lamp ordination ceremonies are held regularly within the clan, but the 12-lamp ordination ceremony is held by many clans and is the highest level of the ordination ceremony of the Red Dao people.

The 12-lamp ordination ceremony takes place with sequential rituals: the ceremony to welcome the master, the ceremony to open the altar, the ceremony to hang the paintings, the ceremony to present to the Jade Emperor, the ceremony to worship ancestors, the ceremony to grant lamps, the ceremony to grant soldiers and horses, the ceremony to read the dharma name, the ceremony to transmit the ordination to become a master, the ceremony to marry husband and wife... In particular, each person who is granted the ordination will receive two decrees on the "10 prohibitions" and "10 vows" with the content of teaching people to live humanely, to respect elders and juniors, to preserve family traditions, which are teachings for life.

The ritual system is inherited. (Photo: VU LINH)

In particular, during the ritual practice, the recipient is taught the way to become a teacher, receiving folk knowledge recorded in ancient books, rare Nom Dao scripts, recording life experiences, behavior, and philosophy of life. Through that, the younger generation not only continues their role in the community but also carries on their shoulders the mission of preserving ethnic culture.

The initiate is taught the art of becoming a teacher. (Photo: VU LINH)

Amidst the changing flow of life today, the coming-of-age ceremony in Mo Vang is a clear testament to a living heritage, where people not only preserve culture through memory but also practice and transmit it through sincerity and strong community strength. This is an intangible cultural heritage with profound humanistic values, clearly reflecting the way the Red Dao people interpret the relationship between humans-universe-gods-ancestors.

Each ritual movement is a manifestation of indigenous cultural knowledge. (Photo: VU LINH)

Source: https://nhandan.vn/le-cap-sac-12-den-thieng-lieng-noi-mo-vang-vung-cao-post883395.html