Reenacting the Buffalo Sacrifice Ceremony as part of the New Rice Festival in Ngoc Chien commune, Muong La district.

Mr. Ca Van Chung, from the Provincial Folk Arts Association, said: "Previously, the Thai people used to graze their buffaloes in a communal grazing area called 'pung khoai'. Pung khoai has two gates, one entrance and one exit. Families in the village would take turns watching over them, with four families watching for five days (two families watching at the entrance and two families watching at the exit), only bringing the buffaloes back when it was time for plowing and harrowing. Because they only planted one rice crop in May and harvested it in October to avoid the cold weather, and some fields had to wait for rainwater, the Buffalo Spirit Worship Ceremony was usually held in May, after the rice planting was finished, before releasing the buffaloes into the grazing area."

The entire village gathers to discuss and agree on the organization of the ceremony. The shaman checks for an auspicious date and time, then informs the villagers so they can prepare for the ceremony. The ceremony usually takes place over one day, with each family preparing their own offerings. They may invite a shaman from the village to perform the ceremony, or the head of the household may perform it themselves.

According to Mr. Cam Vui, a member of the Provincial Folk Arts Association: The buffalo spirit 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 leaves, betel nut husks, eight cups of wine, eight pairs of chopsticks, two bamboo sticks, and a bottle of wine. The tray is placed in front of the family's ancestral altar, and the shaman prays, inviting the ancestors to partake in the ceremony, asking for their permission to perform the buffalo spirit worship ritual, and requesting their blessings for the buffalo's health.

Afterward, the family prepared a second offering similar to the first, with the addition of reeds and two baskets of chicken feathers, placed in the family's buffalo shed. The shaman asked the local deity for permission to perform the ritual, reporting that the harvest was complete, the rice seedlings had begun to take root and turn green, and requesting permission to perform a ritual for the buffaloes so they would be healthy and able to plow well. Then, the shaman performed the ritual with each buffalo, in order from the lead buffalo to the youngest. When thanking a buffalo, that buffalo would be brought before the offering tray, and a prayer would be recited.

The ritual explains that the buffalo has worked hard all year, and at times, due to the pressures of the harvest season, it may not have been treated well. Therefore, after the harvest season is over, the family prepares an offering to the buffalo, hoping for its health and freedom from illness. After the ritual, the shaman gives the buffalo reeds, salt, and sticky rice to eat as a thank you for its constant companionship with the farmers.

After the buffalo spirit offering ceremony, the homeowner will take out the plow and harrow, wash them clean, and then place them next to the kitchen. This shows respect for the farming tools and signifies that the planting and plowing season is over, the buffalo can rest, and people should take good care of the tools for the next planting season. Families then hold a feast, happily toast each other, and rest after the plowing and planting season.

In Ngoc Chien commune, Muong La district, the Buffalo Worship Ceremony is regularly held every year. Mr. Lo Van Say, Chairman of the People's Committee of Ngoc Chien commune, said: Currently, the commune has over 3,000 buffaloes, each weighing from 500 to 1,000 kg or more. In May, after the rice planting season is over, Thai ethnic households in the villages of Luot, Phay, Dong Suong, Na Tau, Muong Chien, etc., will hold a buffalo worship ceremony at their homes. In addition, at the New Rice Festival, we have recreated the Buffalo Worship Ceremony of the Thai ethnic group. This is an opportunity for the villagers to share experiences in livestock farming and production, strengthen solidarity, and create a unique tourism product for visitors from inside and outside the province when they come to visit.

As one of the characteristic agricultural rituals of the Thai ethnic group, the buffalo worship ceremony is simple, wholesome, and inexpensive. It is also a beautiful custom, demonstrating the kindness and profound humanity of the Thai people of Son La.

Text and photos: Lo Thai

The buffalo worship ceremony of the Thai ethnic group (baosonla.org.vn)