Recreating the A Da Festival

Today, December 24th, the Department of Culture and Information of Huong Hoa district, in coordination with the People's Committee of Lia commune, organized the reenactment of the A Da Festival – “Celebrating the New Rice Harvest” of the Pa Ko ethnic group in Huong Hoa district in 2023 at Ky Noi village.

Recreating the A Da Festival -

The A Da Festival - "Celebrating the New Rice Harvest" is a unique traditional cultural festival of the Pa Kô ethnic group in Huong Hoa district - Photo: DV

Huong Hoa is a mountainous district where over 50% of the population are ethnic minorities, with the Pa Ko ethnic group accounting for 4.97% of the total population of the district, mainly concentrated in Lia commune and scattered in other communes and towns in the district.

The Pa Kô people have a long-standing connection to the mountains and forests of this region. Their lifestyle and living environment have gradually shaped their unique cultural characteristics, passed down from generation to generation. Throughout history, marked by countless ups and downs, the Pa Kô people in the majestic Trường Sơn mountain range have always known how to preserve their ethnic cultural identity.

The festivals of the Pa Kô people are considered the most colorful tapestry, bringing together many distinctive cultural features such as traditional cuisine , traditional costumes, traditional musical instruments and folk songs, and traditional rituals for worshipping deities. One of the most typical festivals of the Pa Kô people is the "New Rice Festival," known in the Pa Kô language as the "A Da Festival."

This traditional festival is held at the end of the year after the harvest is complete. This custom has been passed down through many generations and still retains its original traditional character. In the spiritual life of the Pa Kô people, the "New Rice Festival" ritual is indispensable. According to the Pa Kô people's beliefs, this ritual will bring them a life of prosperity and happiness.

The festival is an occasion for villagers to report to the spirits, ancestors, and forefathers that the harvest is complete, and to thank heaven and earth for blessing the village and families with favorable weather, bringing a bountiful harvest and prosperity to the community. It is also an opportunity to strengthen bonds within families, clans, and the community.

Recreating the A Da Festival -

Traditional dances of the Pa Kô ethnic group are performed at the A Da Festival - "Celebrating the New Rice Harvest" held in Lìa commune, Hướng Hóa district - Photo: DV

The A Da Festival – “Celebrating the New Rice Harvest” of the Pa Kô people in Hướng Hóa district in 2023 was elaborately recreated with all the traditional rituals and offerings. Alongside this were illustrative scenes for each part of the ceremony, performed by 50 artisans from Lìa commune.

The festival is vividly and spectacularly recreated to the music of gongs, flutes, stringed instruments, and the folk melodies of Ta Oai and Oat Xa Not – a precious, distinctive, and unique cultural heritage of the Pa Ko people – in order to pray for a peaceful and prosperous life.

In every Pa Kô community, wherever they may be, they hold the "New Rice Festival" ceremony, because for them, this ceremony represents their spiritual life as well as a unique traditional culture that has been preserved and passed down through many generations to this day.

Duc Viet

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