The shaman and locals prepare all necessary items for the crop-praying festival.
Singing and dancing before the rituals begin.
Villagers cook traditional dishes to offer to deities and ancestors.
The ritual takes place several weeks ahead of the rice harvesting season. A respectful shaman chooses a good day for all families in the village to celebrate the festival together.
On behalf of the entire family, the shaman reads a prayer to thank the Rice Genie and invite the ancestors home to share the joy over a good crop.
The festival aims to show respect to the ancestors who taught the local people rice growing skills.
Locals prepare offerings to the Genies.
Various traditional practices have been passed down from generation to generation.
During the event, the Dao people pay tribute to their ancestors while the shaman helps the family chase away evil spirits and bad luck.
This is one of the rituals showcasing the strong agricultural belief of the Red Dao ethnic group in Yen Bai province.