The New Rice Celebration is a cultural heritage of the La Chi (photo: baovanhoa.vn)
The La Chi group has a population of about 17,000 people living in northern mountain provinces. They maintain a rich cultural heritage of customs and festivals such as the Khu Cu Te New Year Festival and New Rice Celebration, as well as folk arts like love duet singing, traditional crafts, and folk games. The New Rice Celebration has been faithfully preserved in the daily lives and agricultural practices of the La Chi people.
Every year, when the rice ripens in the terraced fields and on the hillsides, the La Chi prepare for the New Rice Celebration. The event is usually held around the beginning of the 9th lunar month. After harvesting the very first rice grains, the village elders choose a good day and inform the community about the ceremony.
Artisan Long Duc Trung of Xuan Giang commune, Tuyen Quang province, said: “The village shaman chooses a good day for the worship. Community folk games will also be held to promote the La Chi cultural identity. People from other ethnic groups are invited to join.”
According to La Chi beliefs, before tasting the new rice, families must worship their ancestors and give thanks to heaven, earth, and deities for favorable weather and bountiful crops. Households prepare offerings together.
La Chi Phong of Ban Phung commune, Tuyen Quang, said: “The offerings must include rat meat, fish, birds, and new sticky rice. Families must schedule with the shaman in advance to hold the ceremony. The New Rice Ceremony is held in one day.”
La Chi women perform at the New Rice Celebration 2025. (photo: baovanhoa.vn)
A pair of buffalo horns is an indispensable offering because the buffalo is considered a sacred animal in the La Chi culture and spiritual beliefs. The horns are used to hold worship liquor. Ginger is also a must as it represents the connection between yin and yang.
The shaman and the host arrange the offerings on a tray placed in front of the ancestral altar. They pour liquor and invite the deities and ancestors to enjoy the new rice and pray for their blessing.
After the ritual, the family gathers for the meal. Each person takes a small ball of rice with fish for good luck and then invites neighbors to taste the newly harvested rice.
All the hosts and guests will join folk games such as swinging, throwing cloth balls, climbing a bamboo pole, tug-of-war, and stick pushing.
After the ritual, people play folk games. (photo: baovanhoa.vn)
Do Minh Huong, a tourist attending the ceremony in Xuan Giang commune, said: “I’m impressed by the La Chi’s incredible hospitality. I hope this beautiful cultural tradition will continue to be preserved for future generations.”
The New Rice Celebration of the La Chi is warmly embraced by the multiethnic communities living in Tuyen Quang province.
Nguyen Van Hoang, Vice Chairman of the Xuan Giang commune People’s Committee, said: “We will continue to safeguard and promote the cultural values of the La Chi to other ethnic communities in the region as well as visitors.”
Through the New Rice Celebration, the La Chi community hopes to educate younger generations of their intangible cultural heritage.