From early morning, the stilt house of Mr. Lu Van Dung, a Khmu ethnic minority member in Yen Son village, Yen Na commune, was filled with people, their voices and laughter echoing. Today, everyone came to help Mr. Dung's family prepare for the harvest festival. In the spacious courtyard, several women from the village prepared offerings for the ceremony. Some made sticky rice from the new crop, others grilled stream fish, arranged rice wine, boiled chicken, and wild vegetables... These products originated from the mountains and forests and were the fruits of the local people's labor.

When everything was ready, at the auspicious time, Mr. Lu Van Dung, dressed in traditional attire, solemnly performed the "Ma Ma Hum Me" ritual (new rice offering ceremony). The head of the household respectfully invited ancestors, heaven and earth, and deities to witness and bless the family and the villagers with good health, a bountiful harvest in the next season, and unity and happiness for their descendants.

The Khơ Mú ethnic people directly harvest glutinous rice from the most beautiful rice fields to make sticky rice for the offering tray.

When they get home, the glutinous rice stalks are boiled to produce fragrant and delicious new rice grains.

Joining the family in celebrating the new rice harvest were local leaders, respected elders, and villagers. Mr. Oc Van Toan, the village elder, explained: “Many traditional Khmu dishes are only prepared during ancestral worship ceremonies, offerings to the forest and rice spirits, or when entertaining honored guests. The offering tray for the new rice harvest cannot be without rice, sticky rice, chicken, and fish, symbolizing abundance and harmony between heaven, earth, and humanity.”

Following the ceremony is the festival, when the jar of rice wine is opened for everyone to enjoy with the local people's characteristic dishes. According to the villagers, the new rice harvest festival is a unique cultural activity, not only expressing gratitude to heaven, earth, gods, and ancestors, but also reflecting the spirit of unity and sharing within the community. Each dish and ritual is closely linked to the working life and production, reflecting the harmonious relationship between humans and nature. Mr. Lu Van Dung said that maintaining the new rice harvest festival has become an indispensable part of the people's spiritual life. "Today, although life has changed a lot, families and villagers still preserve this beautiful cultural tradition to teach their children to appreciate the fruits of labor and be grateful for their roots," Mr. Dung shared.

The offering tray in the harvest festival features many dishes characteristic of the local people.

Local officials and residents drink rice wine to celebrate with the host.

Mr. Vi Tien Dung, Head of the Culture and Social Affairs Department of Yen Na commune, said: “The local government always encourages households to maintain and organize the new rice harvest festival, contributing to preserving the unique cultural values ​​of our ethnic group. Through this, we awaken national pride, strengthen national unity, promote the 'All people unite to build a cultured life' movement and the new rural development program of the commune.”

Thanks to the attention of the authorities and the people's awareness of preserving culture, the new rice harvest festival in Yen Na commune is increasingly organized in a systematic way, bringing many spiritual values. The local government hopes that in the not too distant future, the new rice harvest festival will be combined with cultural exchange activities, culinary demonstrations, and introductions to traditional crafts, attracting tourists to experience it.

HIEU AN

    Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/van-hoa/doi-song/nghe-an-le-mung-lua-moi-cua-dong-bao-dan-toc-kho-mu-o-xa-vung-cao-882626