Dak Lak: Recreating the Ede people's water wharf worship ceremony

The shaman arranges offerings to perform the first worship ritual at the village's communal house.

The Ede people's water wharf worshiping ceremony is held in Ea Yong A village, Ea Yong commune, where many Ede ethnic people live. According to shaman Y Ho Eban, the water wharf worshiping ceremony is performed with the main rituals: worshiping ancestors, worshiping the water wharf, worshiping the village's land god, giving thanks on the way to get water from the wharf to the community house, and praying for the health of the homeowner (represented by the village elder).

Below are photos taken at the Ede people's water wharf restoration ceremony:

Offerings to ancestors include 1 jar of rice wine, 1 boiled chicken, 1 plate of sticky rice

Villagers drink rice wine after the first worship ceremony (worshiping ancestors)

The shield dancers lead the ceremonial procession to the waterfront.

The ritual group brought offerings and followed the shaman to the wharf to perform the ritual.

The shield dancers perform traditional water protection movements.

The offerings to the water wharf include a pig, rice wine and a plate of sticky rice.

The ritual of smearing the blood of a sacrificial animal on a bamboo pipe to invite the gods to receive the village's offerings

The shaman read the prayer at the wharf in front of the locals and tourists.

Young girls take cool water jars back to the village

The thanksgiving ceremony on the way to get water from the wharf to the community house shows the Ede people's belief in "animism".

The ritual of worshiping the village's land god to pray for peace and good crops

Ritual to pray for the health of the homeowner (the village elder is the representative of the village), offerings include 1 live chicken and 1 jar of rice wine.

Restoring the Ede people's water wharf worshiping ceremony in Ea Yong commune, Krong Pac district is one of the contents to implement Resolution No. 10/2021/NQ-HDND dated December 17, 2021 of the People's Council of Dak Lak province on preserving and promoting gong culture, period 2022 - 2025.

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