After harvesting the last rice fields, Raglai people in Khanh Hoa often organized new rice festival in order to express their gratitude to the gods and ancestors.
After harvesting the last rice fields, Raglai people in Khanh Hoa often organized new rice festival in order to express their gratitude to the gods and ancestors.
At the end the harvest season of lunar year 2017, in mid February 2018, the Raglai in Khanh Son District (Khanh Hoa) organized the new rice festival. Most of the people in the village gathered at the long house to prepare for the festival right from the early morning. They were busy preparing a lot of food for the ritual. The village’s art group practiced traditional songs and dances to perform at the festival. These activities took place in a boisterous atmosphere.
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This time, the new rice festival was organized by the family of patriarch Cao Le Dan. It was many years since the new rice festival has been organized at such a large scale like this year’s one. “In the past, every family of Raglai people held the ritual of the new rice festival after finishing the harvest. Therefore, the festival was considered as a Tet holidays of the Raglai. However, this custom has gradually faded into oblivion. Nowadays, almost only the elderly have known this custom. This time, our family is very honored to be appointed to organize the festival. Hopefully, the festival can help the youth to learn about this traditional custom,” said patriarch Cao Le Dan.
The preparation for the new rice festival finished at around 4pm. The ceremony was performed at the traditional long house of the Raglai. The priest performed ritual actions to show gratitude to the gods and the ancestors for the help in the last harvest season.
As said by artisan Mau Quoc Tien, the Raglai appreciate the rice very much. The new rice festival used to be very important and meaningful to Raglai people. That was an occasion for them to get together, enjoy leisure activities, and repay the favor received in the last year. The festival formerly took place in three days instead of one day as nowadays.
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Apart from showing gratitude to the gods and the ancestors, through the new rice festival, Raglai people also want to warn the community not to cause forest fire and overexploit the forests; recall the merits of the ancestors; encourage people to work hard and maintain good relationship with the community.
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According to Chairman of Son Hiep Commune People’s Committee Tran Tan Chong, the revivement of the new rice festival is one of the means to maintain and preserve the traditional cultural features of Raglai people as well as to connect the culture and tourism activities. Son Hiep Commune has successfully maintained the traditional long house, music group and ma la group of the Raglai. The commune also has a tourist attraction namely Ta Gu Falls. Therefore, Hiep Son Commune was chosen to be developed as a tourism center in Khanh Son District.
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The new rice festival and leaving-grave rite are the two unique cultural characteristics of Raglai people in Khanh Son District, which needs to be revived. Under the direction of the district authorities, Son Hiep Commune People’s Committee has been carrying out some activities to revive the traditional rituals and festivals of the Raglai as well as promote the development of tourism in the commune.
Nhan Tam
Translated by H.N
