Unique water trough worship ceremony of Ca Dong people in Nam Tra My

Water trough worshiping ritual of the Ca Dong people. Photo: THIEN TUNG

The water trough worship ceremony has long become one of the most important rituals of the year for the Ca Dong, Xo Dang, and Mo Nong ethnic communities in Nam Tra My.

Setting up a flagpole to celebrate Tet. Photo: THIEN TUNG

Village elder Vo Hong Duong said that after nearly seven years of moving to the new village, this is the first year that Tak Nam villagers have organized a large-scale water trough worship ceremony, an activity in response to the pole-making contest launched by Tra Don commune.

The group of people headed towards the water source. Photo: THIEN TUNG

"This year, there was a good harvest. Many people went abroad to work. No family was hungry or cold. Everyone was excited, so we held a water trough worship ceremony to thank the land, sky, and gods for blessing the villagers," said old man Duong.

The Ca Dong people consider water an important god in their religious life. Photo: THIEN TUNG

The water trough worship is a traditional festival of the Ca Dong people, marking the transition between the old year and the new year. However, this festival is usually limited to a village. Each village will hold the water trough worship ceremony at different times, between December and February of the following year.

Praying for luck from the gods: Photo: THIEN TUNG

Like other villages, the people of Tak Nam prepare the worship ceremony very carefully, from the worship place at the water source, the place to receive the water, to the pole and the offerings to the gods... are carefully prepared. In particular, this is an opportunity for the villagers to bond and work together to carry out the common tasks of the village.

Ca Dong women bring water to the village. Photo: THIEN TUNG

According to Mr. Ho Van Luong (Tak Nam village), about a week before the water trough worshiping ceremony, the villagers divided the work among themselves. Men decorated the pole, women cleaned the fences and gates, picked wild vegetables, pounded rice, and brewed rice wine...

Ca Dong women prepare for the village's big festival. Photo: THIEN TUNG

"This year we registered to participate in the pole-making competition organized by the commune, so we invested a lot of time and effort into it. In addition to making the pole, the men in the village also looked for bamboo to replace the flagpole to celebrate Tet. I have never seen the village as crowded as today" - Mr. Luong shared.

Tak Nam people raise the national flag to celebrate Tet. Photo: THIEN TUNG

Not only the festival, the water trough worshiping ceremony also lasts for three days after that. After completing the worshiping rituals at the village elder's house, people will stay at home and wait for guests to come to their house and wish them good things for the new year.

People give each other good wishes for the new year. Photo: THIEN TUNG

Among the 3 villages of Tra Don commune, 11 villages registered to organize the water trough worshiping ceremony and pole making competition. Tak Nam village is the first village of Tra Don commune to organize the ceremony and participate in the competition, so the commune organized a group of judges to join in the fun and give scores.

Mr. Dinh Van Vuong - Vice Chairman of Tra Don Commune People's Committee said, this is a way to revive the good cultural identity, which is gradually fading over time, of the Ca Dong people in the commune.

People of Tak Nam village happy at the festival. Photo: THIEN TUNG

Despite the intervention and support from the government, when witnessing the villagers together organizing the water trough worship ceremony, we can see that their traditional culture is still being preserved almost intact. They love and have a truly serious view on the culture of their ancestors. This is the basis for Nam Tra My district to develop community tourism in the coming time.

[ VIDEO ] - Water trough worship ceremony of Ca Dong people in Tak Nam village

Source: https://baoquangnam.vn/doc-dao-le-cung-mang-nuoc-cua-dong-bao-ca-dong-tai-nam-tra-my-3147959.html