Pa Co ethnic people celebrate the Water Deity worship ceremony. (Photo: Le Hieu/VOV–Central Region)

Visitors to the highland commune of A Luoi during this time can attend many traditional festivals of local ethnic groups, including the Water Deity worship ceremony of the Pa Ko.

Local Le Van Cat said that the Pa Co depend on forests and natural water sources for their livelihood. Water helps rice grow, keeps fields green, ensures people’s health, and brings peace to villages, according to Cat. Thus, the Water Deity worship ceremony expresses gratitude to the deities and the water sources that have sustained the community for generations.

“Today, we still strictly follow the traditional procedures today, worshipping the Mountain Deity first, followed by the Water Deity, as the Mountain Deity holds a higher rank. This is how it has always been done,” said Cat.

Ritual disguises in the Water Deity worship festival (Photo: Le Hieu/VOV–Central Region)

In the past, the ritual was usually kept within families or clans, and rarely held on a village or commune scale. It’s an occasion for everyone to express their gratitude to the deities and wish for favorable weather, bountiful harvests, peaceful villages, and prosperity.

The ceremony has two parts: worshipping the Chief Deity, the supreme deity governing heaven, earth, rivers, and streams, at the community cultural house, and worshipping the Water Deity at the river wharf. Offerings include daily life products such as goat meat, chicken, fish, black glutinous rice, maize, sweet potatoes, and cassava. All are home-grown or hunted and caught from nature.

Artisan Ho Van Thoi performs traditional gongs of the Pa Co people at the festival. (Photo: Le Hieu/VOV–Central Region)

Pa Co artisan Ho Van Thoi said: “Before the ceremony, people are assigned to catch fish and pick vegetables for the offerings. Everything must be carefully prepared.”

The worship of the Chief Deity is an important opening rite, reflecting the cosmic order and the Pa Co’s principle of hierarchical respect. Pa Co artisan Ho Thi Tu said: “The Water Deity worship ceremony brings together all the deities, such as the Chief Deity, the Mountain Deity, the River Deity, and the Water Deity, living harmoniously with one another just like people are. Living together and governing the same space, they are expected to unite, show mutual care, and attend a festival organized by the villagers.”

The Water Deity worship ceremony of the Pa Co people in Hue city (Photo: Le Hieu/VOV–Central Region)

Nguyen Thien Binh, Deputy Director of the Hue Department of Culture and Sports, said the city is promoting community-based tourism associated with preserving cultural identity.  “The preservation and promotion of cultural values of ethnic communities is an integral part of Hue’s cultural system. We will continue to tap into cultural heritage values to serve tourism development, which contributes to improving the lives of local people.”

The Water Deity worship ceremony of the Pa Co people is vivid evidence of the harmonious relationship between humans and nature. The annual organization of the festival aims to safeguard and promote the Pa Co’s fine traditions and implement Vietnam’s policies on developing culture and people.