The Dao ethnic group in the province has preserved many unique cultural identities of their people, especially in rituals and beliefs. Among them, Tet Nhay is the most important ritual that has existed for a long time, vividly reflecting the religious life of the Dao people.
The shaman performs the worship ritual during the Jumping Festival at Mr. Duong Minh Dung's family, Thung Dao Bac hamlet, Tu Son commune (Kim Boi).
According to the family genealogy, every 18 years, a man who moves out on his own is allowed to celebrate Tet Nhay once to express gratitude, thank heaven and earth, Ban Vuong, gods, ancestors, pray for good luck, blessings, good weather, and reunion with his children and grandchildren at the end of the year.
Previously, the Dancing Festival of the Dao Quan Chet people was held continuously for 3 times in 3 years, the first year was held for 2 days - 1 night; the second year was held for 3 days - 2 nights; the third year was held for 4 days - 3 nights. Up to now, the Dancing Festival has been improved and shortened to 3 days - 3 nights continuously but still maintains the correct order and traditional values. During the Dancing Festival, there are 36 dances, performed repeatedly.
Over 60 years old, since moving out, this year is the first time that Mr. Duong Minh Dung's family - a prestigious village elder of Thung Dao Bac hamlet, Tu Son commune (Kim Boi) has been allowed to organize the Nhay Festival. As the most important ritual in the religious culture of the Dao Quan Chet people, his family has prepared carefully and meticulously for the Nhay Festival many months ago, from raising pigs and chickens, to preparing delicious sticky rice to make banh day...
On the day of the Jumping Festival, from early morning, Mr. Dung's house was packed with relatives and neighbors, each with a job, busy helping the homeowner prepare for the ceremony. Some butchered pork, others pounded and shaped sticky rice cakes, made offerings, money offerings, carved, painted patterns and motifs on wooden sticks in the shape of swords, knives, and axes to use as dancing props for the Jumping Festival... The offering tray was quite simple, in addition to pork and wine, sticky rice cakes were an indispensable dish, first to offer to ancestors, then to entertain relatives and neighbors. The offering trays were placed on many levels, each tray had its own shaman, wearing ceremonial clothes and performing many rituals. Mr. Dung shared: "Tet Nhay is a ritual passed down by many generations of Dao Quan Chet people. Now, we continue to perform it with the meaning of remembering our ancestors, praying for luck and fortune, hoping that our ancestors will bless our family and descendants with health and luck... Even though our family is in difficult circumstances, we still try to organize Tet Nhay...".
During Tet Nhay, the worship area is carefully arranged by the homeowner, including traditional worship paintings. For the Dao ethnic group, worship paintings hold an important position in religious activities. These are precious paintings that each clan and family must have, considered treasures and only used on important occasions.
By the evening of the first day, when all the procedures of the Lunar New Year are completed, the sound of trumpets, drums, and bronze bells resounds in the living room filled with worship paintings, mixed with cheers and howls, creating a very impressive and mysterious scene. The main ritual of the Jumping Festival takes place from the first night. First are the dances to show the way, build bridges to welcome gods and ancestors to celebrate Tet; the dance to greet parents and ancestors, the dance to invite fairies to descend to earth... Besides, there are many other dances such as: dance to develop the land, dance to run flags, sword dance, bell dance, literary dance, martial arts dance... The most special is the turtle dance. Turtle is one of the two animals worshiped by the Dao people, so this dance has many meanings. In front of the altar, the dancer goes first, followed by men and young people wearing traditional costumes, following each other around the ceremony area, performing the movements of worshiping Ban Vuong - the ancestor of the Dao people and ancestors and gods. Each person holds an object that can make a sound according to each dance. In general, the dance movements are quite simple and highly symbolic.
As an ancient ritual, passed down and inherited by many generations of Dao people, over the years, the Dao ethnic people in Thung Dao Bac hamlet have always attached importance to preserving and promoting the unique cultural values of their people.
Mr. Trieu Xuan Tinh, Head of Thung Dao Bac hamlet, shared: Currently, with the attention of the Party and the State, we not only strive to preserve traditional customs and practices imbued with the cultural identity of the Dao ethnic group, but also propagate to the younger generation of the Dao people to continue to cherish and preserve them.
With the meaning of thanking heaven, earth, gods, ancestors, worshiping ancestors, rain gods, wind gods to pray for favorable rain, wind, bountiful crops, good things for everyone..., Tet Nhay is the spiritual thread connecting generations of Dao people wearing shorts, an occasion for descendants to reunite, to express their wishes for a prosperous and happy life. At the same time, it teaches the younger generation to be grateful for the ancestors' merits, to unite, to work enthusiastically, to produce, to build a rich and strong village, a prosperous and happy life.
Linh Nhat
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