Ethnic communities in mountainous areas of the central province of Quang Ngai are preparing offerings and rituals for the traditional Lunar New Year (Tet) celebration in their own unique style.
In Quang Ngai province’s Son Ha district, the H’re ethnic people are using bamboo and leaves to make good-luck offerings to their Gods in the new year in the way their ancestors did.
Dinh Van Bon, a resident in Son Ha district, Quang Ngai province said: "I saw my grandparents and my parents do it every New Year festival, and follow them. Then I teach young people how to make offerings and decorate the house, combining the traditional style of H’re people and the present practice”.
Among the H’re traditional offerings at Tet, the Gagu (a variant of Tét cake (cylindrical sticky rice cake) is indispensible. H’re women selected the highest quality rice to make the cakes to offer to the Mountain God, the Tree God and their ancestors, asking for their blessing for a new healthy and prosperous year.
Dinh Thi Luu, a resident in Son Ha district, Quang Ngai province told reporters: "We offer Tét cake to pray for prosperity and good health".
Meanwhile, Cadong ethnic people in the mountainous district of Son Tay celebrated their traditional New Year festival at the same time with the Tet of the nation.
Ahead the festive time, Cadong men are responsible for decorating houses while women cook.
Dinh Thi Thieu, a resident, Son Tay district, Quang Ngai province said that he had prepared a pig and some chickens along with rice wine for the Tet festival and would invite his neighbours to come and enjoy the food with his family.
In these days, the sound of gongs can be heard everywhere in Son Tay as Cadong ethnic people’s are celebrating their traditional festival.
Villagers usually get together to celebrate the festival, taking a break from a hard-working year, and wishing each other health and lucrative crops.-VNA
