The beauty of folk beliefs through autumn sacrifices

(GLO)- From the 7th to 8th lunar month every year, many communities in Gia Lai province organize autumn worship ceremonies at village communal houses, demonstrating the harmonious relationship between humans and nature, with gods and ancestors according to the spring and autumn ritual.

That is when heaven and earth enter the moment of harmony between summer and autumn, the main crop season has passed.

The autumn ceremony at Huu Thanh communal house takes place with traditional rituals. Photo: Ngoc Nhuan

The autumn ceremony is also a religious ritual with community value, expressing the desire for a peaceful life. Dr. Vo Minh Hai (Quy Nhon University) said: "The spring ceremony has the meaning of praying for favorable weather and good crops; and the autumn ceremony is an occasion for villagers to express their gratitude to the gods, tutelary gods, and ancestors who have blessed them with a year of favorable business."

In the sacred space of the communal house, offerings are solemnly displayed, gongs and drums resound in harmony with the bustling music, and the scent of incense spreads, creating an atmosphere that is both sacred and intimate. After the ceremony, everyone sits together to enjoy the blessings, chat happily, contributing to connecting the community and preserving traditional cultural values.

Xuong Ly communal house holds the autumn offering ceremony according to custom on the 9th day of the 7th lunar month every year. Photo: Kim Chuc

Mr. Nguyen Kim Chuc - Secretary of Xuong Ly communal house (Quy Nhon Dong ward) said: "According to custom, on the 9th day of the 7th lunar month every year, villagers hold an autumn ceremony at Xuong Ly communal house. In addition to the ceremony to worship the gods, there is also a ceremony to pray for the souls of heroic martyrs. People also invite the opera troupe to perform to add more liveliness."

Some places in the Gia Lai highlands still maintain the autumn sacrifice ceremony as a traditional cultural lifestyle. Mr. Tran Thanh Luan - Head of the Ritual Committee of Cuu An communal house (Cuu An commune) shared: "On the 17th to 18th of the 8th lunar month every year, people gather at Cuu An communal house to hold the autumn sacrifice ceremony. If the spring sacrifice includes a mountain opening ceremony to pray for national peace and prosperity, the autumn sacrifice will include a wind-expelling ceremony to pray for favorable weather and wind, so that the coming months will continue to be peaceful and prosperous."

The opening ceremony at the autumn festival of Huu Thanh communal house. Photo: Ngoc Nhuan

Some communal houses still preserve Nguyen Dynasty royal decrees, such as Huu Thanh communal house (Tuy Phuoc Dong commune), which holds an autumn ceremony on the 16th day of the 8th lunar month every year, and also has a royal decree opening ceremony.

Mr. Nguy Hong Thanh - Chief Priest of Huu Thanh village communal house - said: "The autumn offering ceremony is not only a spiritual ritual, but also an occasion for the village and neighborly relationship to be strengthened, the tradition of "remembering the source of drinking water" to be continued, and villagers to join hands to preserve and promote the traditional cultural values ​​left by their ancestors".

Cuu An villagers hold an autumn festival at the communal house, preserving traditional cultural beauty. Photo: Ngoc Nhuan

The beauty of folk beliefs through the festival is preserved by the people, contributing to enriching the identity of Gia Lai land - a place where the culture of the highlands, plains and coastal areas is in harmony.

Source: https://baogialai.com.vn/net-dep-tin-nguong-dan-gian-qua-le-te-thu-post568978.html