For a long time, buffaloes have been considered a great asset in Thai families. Because of the high regard for this animal, since ancient times, people have had a buffalo worship ceremony (bundle of sweet potatoes) to give thanks after the harvest season.
Reenacting the Buffalo Worship Ceremony within the framework of the New Rice Festival in Ngoc Chien commune, Muong La district.
Mr. Ca Van Chung, the provincial Folk Arts Association, said: In the past, the Thai people often let their buffaloes out in the communal grazing area of the village called pung khoai. Pung khoai has two doors, one entrance and one exit. Families in the village take turns watching it, four families watch it for five days (two families watch at the entrance and two families watch at the exit), and only bring the buffaloes back when it is time to plow and harrow. Because they only plant one crop of rice in May, harvest it in October to avoid the cold, and some fields have to wait for rain, the buffalo worship ceremony is usually held in May, after the rice is planted, before letting the buffaloes out into the grazing area.
The whole village gathers to discuss and agree on the organization of the ceremony. The shaman chooses a good day and month, then informs the villagers to prepare for the ceremony. The ceremony usually takes place in one day, each family prepares their own offering tray, can invite the shaman in the village to perform the ceremony or the homeowner performs the ceremony themselves.
Mr. Cam Vui, a member of the Provincial Folk Arts Association, informed: The buffalo worship ceremony is not elaborate. The homeowner prepares a tray of offerings, including a boiled chicken, two bowls of chicken broth, salt, a plate of betel, chay peel, eight cups of wine, eight pairs of chopsticks, two pairs of bamboo sticks, and a bottle of wine. The shaman places the tray of offerings in front of the family's ancestral altar and invites the ancestors to come and receive the ceremony, asking for the ancestors' permission to perform the buffalo worship ceremony and bless the buffalo with good health.
After that, the family prepares the second offering tray similar to the first offering tray, with more reed grass and two baskets of chicken feathers, and places them in the family's buffalo pen. The shaman asks the local god to come and perform the ceremony, reports that the harvest is over, the rice has begun to take root and grow green, and asks permission to offer sacrifices to the buffalo so that the buffalo will be healthy and plow well. After that, the shaman performs the ritual with each buffalo, in turn, from the leader to the smallest buffalo. When thanking a buffalo, he will pull that buffalo to the front of the offering tray and read the prayer.
The prayer says that the buffalo has worked hard all year, and sometimes due to the pressure of the harvest, people do not treat the buffalo well, so when the harvest is over, the family has a tray of offerings to the buffalo, hoping that the buffalo will be healthy and not get sick. After the prayer, the shaman gives the buffalo grass, salt, and sticky rice to eat to thank the buffalo for always accompanying the farmer.
After the buffalo worship ceremony, the homeowner will take out the plow and harrow, wash them, and put them next to the kitchen to show respect for the farming tools and to show that the plowing and planting season has ended, the buffalo can rest, and people will preserve the farming tools well to continue the new crop next year. Families organize meals, happily congratulate each other, and rest after the plowing and planting season.
In Ngoc Chien commune, Muong La district, the buffalo worshiping ceremony is held regularly every year. Mr. Lo Van Say, Chairman of Ngoc Chien commune People's Committee, said: Currently, the commune has over 3,000 buffaloes, each weighing from 500 to 1,000 kg or more. In May of the solar calendar, after finishing the crop, Thai households in Luot, Phay, Dong Suong, Na Tau, Muong Chien villages... will hold buffalo worshiping ceremonies at home. In addition, at the New Rice Festival, we recreated the buffalo worshiping ceremony of the Thai ethnic group. This is an opportunity for the villagers to share experiences in raising and producing animals, strengthening solidarity. At the same time, creating unique tourism products for domestic and foreign tourists when visiting.
As one of the typical agricultural rituals of the Thai ethnic group, the buffalo worship ritual is simple, healthy, and inexpensive. This is also a good custom, expressing the kindness and profound humanity of the Thai ethnic group in Son La.
Article and photos: Lo Thai