The Central Highlands, a sunny and windy land with vast mountains and forests, is not only famous for its majestic natural landscape but also for its rich and diverse culture. Traditional festivals of the Central Highlands people are an indispensable part of community life, where people harmonize with nature and express gratitude to the gods. These festivals are not only an opportunity for people to honor their culture but also give visitors the opportunity to experience the unique customs of the mysterious highland region.
Gong Festival
The Central Highlands Gong Festival is one of the most unique cultural festivals of the people of this land. Gongs are considered sacred symbols, associated with the spiritual life of the Central Highlands people, and are also a means of connecting people with the divine world. The Gong Festival was recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2005.
During the festival, the echoing sounds of gongs mix with the sounds of drums, trumpets and the singing of the villagers to create a sacred and vibrant space. Artists in the village will perform traditional dances around the fire, while people participate in fun activities and worshiping rituals to thank the gods for blessing the bountiful harvest and life. live peacefully.
Grave Removal Ceremony
The Grave Leaving Ceremony is one of the most important rituals in the spiritual life of the Central Highlands people, especially for ethnic groups such as Ede, Ba Na and Gia Rai. This festival is held to send the souls of the deceased back to their ancestors, helping them have a new life in the afterlife and ending the connection between the living and the deceased.
The Grave Leaving Ceremony is usually held a few years after a loved one passes away, when the family is qualified to perform the ceremony. During the festival, people build tombs decorated with bright patterns and place wooden statues depicting images of people and animals. Activities in the festival include singing and dancing, gong performances and offerings to the gods, creating a sacred but also emotional space.
Water Wharf Worship Ceremony
The Water Wharf Worshiping Ceremony is one of the important traditional festivals of the Central Highlands people, to pray to the gods to protect the water source and bring a peaceful life and good crops to the villagers. For the Central Highlands people, water is a precious source of life, so the water wharf worship ceremony is held as a ritual to thank the water god for giving them clean water and abundant water resources.
The festival usually takes place at the beginning of the rainy season, when water begins to become abundant again. During the worshiping ceremony, the village chief will perform worshiping and praying rituals by the water wharf, then people will participate in fun activities, dance and sing together and eat and drink to celebrate the holiday. The Water Wharf Worship Ceremony is not only an opportunity to honor nature but also an opportunity to unite the community and strengthen the spirit of solidarity in the village.
New Rice Offering Ceremony
New Rice Offering Ceremony is one of the traditional festivals of the Central Highlands, taking place during the rice harvest season. This festival is to thank the gods for giving people a good harvest and pray for prosperity in future crops.
During the festival, people will bring new rice and other agricultural products to offer to the gods and ancestors. Feasts are held, with traditional dishes of the Central Highlands such as bamboo-tube rice, grilled meat and wine. This is a time for everyone to have fun together, enjoy the fruits of their labor and give thanks to heaven and earth.
Central Highlands Festival
Traditional festivals of the Central Highlands people are not only an expression of long-standing culture and customs but also an opportunity for people to honor sacred values and connect the community. From the mysterious gong festival to the meaningful Ben Nuoc Worshiping Ceremony, each festival brings unique and profound experiences about Central Highlands culture. When participating in these festivals, visitors not only immerse themselves in the sacred space of the mountains and forests but also have the opportunity to understand more about the lives and souls of the people here.
