Pa Co ethnic group celebrates new rice season with unique festival
The rice cultivation cycle of the Pa Co ethnic minority group in A Luoi district, in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue begins with the land blessing ceremony, land clearing, and completes with the new rice celebration.
A reenactment of the Ada Koonh festival of the Pa Co ethnic people in A Luoi district, Thua Thien-Hue province. (Photo: VNA)
Thua Thien-Hue (VNA) 𒁏– The rice cultivation cycle of the Pa Co ethnic minority group in A Luoi district, in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue begins with the land blessing ceremony, land clearing, and completes with the new rice celebration.
After harvest, villagers carry rice to store and wait for the village chief to announce the date for the new rice celebration, which is called the Ad Koonh festival. The festival usually takes place around the 12th lunar month and occurs every five years or sooner during particularly bountiful harvests.
Before the celebration, an agreement is made between the village elder and clan heads to invite the deities and set the festival date. Once agreed upon, the village chief performs a ritual called “Ta Nom”, which involves placing rice, water, and alcohol into a ceremonial jar. This jar symbolises the offerings to be presented during the new rice celebration.
The village chief informs the spirits that villagers will return to the surrounding lands to seek delicious food from the forest and streams for the celebration, invoking blessings for health and fortune during the preparation.
Offerings include fish and meat preserved by grilling, drying or smoking, with the special inclusion of Ahui (a type of grain-fed fat rat). Guests are served rice cakes and various local wines. During preparations, outsiders are often prohibited from entering the village to avoid bad luck or food spoilage.
In the days leading up to the festival, families prepare symbolic seeds. For "Mother Rice", a small hut is constructed where families select healthy plants which are then tied together. The village elder decorates the central rice bundle with beautiful jewelry to show respect.
Other selected plants are gathered beside the ceremonial offerings of each family. The central area where deities are worshiped is adorned with beautiful traditional textiles, and a special item called Aruongro is placed for the forest deity.
Villagers erect a ceremonial pole for sacrificing a buffalo, decorated with symbols of people and rice facing the sunrise and sunset, along with offerings for the spirits.
The ceremonial structure consists of three main tiers for the deities: the first for the earth, the second for the water, and the third for the sky, with an additional tier for the forest deity. A cleansing ritual is performed to ward off evil spirits and negativity from the village.
A reenactment of a worship ceremony at the Ada Koonh festival (Photo: Thua Thien-Hue Newspaper)
On the designated day, families gather to invite "Mother Rice" to the storage area, marking the first ritual of the new rice celebration. Along with ceremonial attire and items, an Ahui rat is prepared as an offering to the rice deity.
Following the invitation to Mother Rice, families present their offerings around the ceremonial pole to inform the spirits about the delicious food prepared and invite the deities to join the celebration to pray for bountiful harvests and wealth.
After that, the Ada Koonh ritual officially begins, with the village gates opening to allow deities and guests to join the festivities. The celebration lasts several days, featuring traditional songs, dances, and communal gatherings, reflecting the Pa Co's vibrant cultural heritage.
Musical instruments are played in the Ada Koonh festival (Photo: Thua Thien-Hue Newspaper)
The new rice celebration fulfills the spiritual and cultural life of the Pa Co people, expressing gratitude to the deities for a bountiful harvest. It also represents a time of joy, unity, and respect between people and the forces of nature.
On December 20, 2019, the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism recognised the Ada Koonh festival of the Pa Co people as part of the national intangible cultural heritage./.
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