A shaman performs a ritual at the Bon Village temple during
the Xen Muong festival
Visitors to the festival
will have the chance to listen to the recital of an epic on the local Thai
ethnic group’s history from the early days they set up the villages. It is said
that Chieng Chau was the first place of settlement of the Thai group when they
migrated from Bac Ha (Lao Cai) in the 13th century. Through many ups
and downs, generations of Thai landlords deserved credit for leading locals in
reclaiming forest lands to set up villages. During the Later Le Dynasty, the
Thai landlord in Mai Chau made a great feat in fighting invaders from the
north, and was rewarded with the title "Tuoc hau dai tu khau truc trung hau”
(called in short Tuong Su by the Thai locals).
The Xen Muong festival
highlights the traditional cultural values of the Thai group. It begins with
rituals performed by a shaman, who must be a person respected by all in the
community. On the main stage, the shaman reads prayers in Thai language. He
then leads a procession taking the Tuong Su’s palanquin to the temple of Bon
village, followed by other worshipping rituals. The prayers reflect the adoration
and respect for Thai landlords who contributed greatly to the foundation of
Thai villages. The shaman serves as a bridge between generations of Thai people
with their ancestors.
The vitality of the Xen
Muong festival also comes from the originality of Thai culture and folk dances
and songs./.
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