The 12-lamp initiation ceremony of the Red Dao people

The origin of the coming-of-age ceremony, in the Dao community, still has a legend. As an important traditional ceremony of the highland people, the coming-of-age ceremony of the Red Dao has great significance for every ethnic man. This is a milestone marking the maturity of a Red Dao man, and at the same time is an indispensable spiritual food in the cultural and religious life of the ethnic people.

So what is special about the Red Dao's initiation ceremony? Today, let's learn about this ceremony with author Vu Van Lam (Vu Lam) through the photo series "The 12-lamp initiation ceremony of the Red Dao". The photo series was submitted by the author to the Happy Vietnam Photo and Video Contest, organized by the Ministry of Information and Communications . The Red Dao's initiation ceremony, also known as the Lap Tinh ceremony, plays an important role and has great significance for every man living in the villages in the Northwest highlands. This is the day they are recognized as adults both physically and spiritually, so they are very interested and respected. According to the Red Dao's concept, this is the day for the men of the family and clan to receive recognition from the gods and the underworld, and can start their career as shamans after the ceremony. Not only is it an occasion to recognize the maturity of men in the clan, the Red Dao's Coming of Age Ceremony also demonstrates human morality, guiding people to goodness and always remembering the great merits of their ancestors and remembering the origins and roots of each person. For this reason, the Red Dao's Coming of Age Ceremony has become a common and mandatory custom for all men of the clan. They take this ceremony very seriously and especially, right from birth, the men of the family and clan have the desire to hold the Coming of Age Ceremony, to receive the Coming of Age and to receive a high rank.

The Red Dao's initiation ceremony implies concepts of education and philosophy of life.

The monks went out to the ceremony yard, used a horn and called the Jade Emperor, announced the start of the main ceremony and asked the Jade Emperor to witness. In fact, the Red Dao's Coming of Age Ceremony is not held on a specific day. It is a mandatory ritual of the community, so the Red Dao's Coming of Age Ceremony will be held in an open scope, possibly for individuals, many individuals in the same family, clan. Or they will also hold the ceremony at the same time for many different families, clans and villages. That is why the Red Dao's Coming of Age Ceremony is also divided into many different levels. According to the concept of the Dao ethnic group, the higher the rank of a person, the greater the honor of their family and clan. For this reason, Red Dao men must continuously learn, cultivate and improve throughout their lives, in order to achieve a higher rank, bringing honor to their family and clan.

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