The New Rice Celebration is held during the full moon of the eighth lunar month and lasts for seven days, with each family choosing an auspicious day within the festival week to conduct the ceremony.
It is an occasion for people to express gratitude to their ancestors and deities for blessing them with abundant harvests and favorable weather. It is also a day to remember the deceased and to serve as a family reunion when relatives return home to share the joy of prosperity and bountiful crops.
Luong Van Thong, a senior villager with substantial knowledge of the Lao customs, traditions, and culture in Muong Va village, Sop Cop commune, said: “The New Rice Celebration has been preserved through generations and continues to be practiced today. Before the festival, people prepare the offerings for their ancestors and the Gods of the river and mountains. The offerings, which are wrapped in dong leaves, include white sticky rice, fruits and farm produce, grilled crickets, grasshoppers, bee pupae, and bamboo worms.”
Artisan Vi Thi Bun Chan, a Muong Va villager, said: “The women are responsible for gathering fruits, vegetables, insects, crabs, and fish, and also cooking the meals. The men prepare chicken and duck dishes. Everyone has their own task, creating a joyful and exciting atmosphere.”
The trays of offerings are arranged in different places in the house: one on the ancestral altar, one in the center of the house for deceased family members, one in the kitchen corner to worship the soul of the male host, one on the outdoor altar in the garden for the maternal side of the family, one in the corridor for wandering souls, and one beneath the stilt house to honor the rice granary, the source of sustenance for the family.
Mr. Thong said: “The prayer expresses gratitude and wishes for blessings, recounting the harvest and the products made by descendants, respectfully offering them to the ancestors. They also pray for prosperity, abundant harvests, smooth endeavors, and freedom from illness and misfortune.”
After the host completes the worship rituals, all family members enjoy the meal together. The offering trays remain on the altars at worship places for about one hour before being taken down by the male head of the household or his sons and daughters. Everyone drinks a cup of rice liquor and receives one offering package as a way of receiving blessings from the ancestors.
The opening of the offering packages is carried out via a guessing game. A judge, usually the person who was involved in the preparation process, asks how many items are inside the package.
If the players guess the correct number of items, they are rewarded with one cup of liquor. If they guess incorrectly, they must drink five penalty cups. If a package contains a chicken or duck head, the person drinks five reward cups. Chicken wings mean three cups, and chicken feet mean two. The game makes the festival even more lively.
Nguyen Mai Huong, a guest from Hanoi, said: “The New Rice Celebration is very interesting. The offering tray has many packages containing the essence of heaven and earth – sticky rice, meat, fish, and fruits. They are beautifully arranged in a way that cannot be found anywhere else.”
Muong Va village has 450 households and nearly 1,800 residents, of whom 76% are Lao people. Lo Van Thinh, Party Secretary and head of the village, said: “The New Rice Celebration is highly valued by the Lao people and has never been skipped. We plan to organize it on a larger scale so that more people will know about it and ethnic communities can become more united.”
