Kho Mu people in their field (Photo: VOV)

During the days before the Ma Me Me festival, the Kho Mu men go into the forest to hunt birds, squirrels, mice, and catch fish while the Kho Mu women prepare sticky rice and collect vegetables and fruits. The Kho Mu people of Nam Manh village believe that the offerings they prepare for the festival are a measure of their prosperity. The offerings include sticky rice, young green rice, bamboo tube rice, pork, chicken, squirrel meat, wild mice, and freshwater fish. 

During the festival, cultural and sports activities, folk games, and cultural exchanges are held. 

On the ceremonial day of the festival, which is called “Calling the rice soul”, the shaman wears traditional black indigo clothes with a scarf over his head and arranges the offerings on the tray in a particular order, placing the salty dishes at the center to show respect for the gods and those who have died. Then the shaman pours 2 cups of liquor to invite the deceased and lights a beeswax candle on the offering tray. Other people gather behind the shaman, who then invites the gods to enjoy the offerings and bless the villagers with peace, health, and bumper crops.

Stick pushing game at the Kho Mu festival (Photo: VOV)

La Van So, a shaman of Nam Manh village said the Ma Ma Me festival is held after every harvest and usually lasts three days. As it’s an important ritual, they prepare as many offerings as possible, despite their difficult circumstances. 

"The festival is part of the Kho Mu tradition. We need to follow all steps of the festival to ensure health and prosperity for our children. This ritual dates back a long time and we can’t abandon it," said So. 

There are more than 8,000 Kho Mu people in Lai Chau. Most of them live in Sin Ho, Than Uyen, Tan Uyen, Muong Te, or Nam Nhun district.

Vu Tien Hoa, Vice Chairman of Nam Nhun district’s People’s Committee said his district has revived the Ma Ma Me festival as part of an effort to preserve and promote the cultural identity of ethnic minority groups in Lai Chau.

"Over the past few years, we have restored a number of traditional festivals of local ethnic minority groups such as the Min Loong Phat crop-ending festival of the Cong ethnic group, the Mong panpipe festival, and the King Le Thai To Worshipping Festival. We will continue to observe other traditional festivals like the New Rice Welcoming Festival of the Kho Mu and Mang ethnic group and organize shows of the traditional clothing of ethnic minority groups. We will also preserve and digitalize the language of small ethnic minority groups like the Mang and the Cong," said Hoa.

The Ma Ma Me festival, held from September 24 to 26 this year, drew a large number of local ethnic people as well as visitors. After the ritual “ Calling the rice soul”, the locals and visitors participated in folk games like stick pushing, tug of war, and beating the gongs while wearing blindfolds. 

Di Thi Ca of the Mong ethnic group in Phong Tho district, said: "Each ethnic group has its own customs. The customs of the Mong are different from those of the Kho Mu. The customs of the Kho Mu are interesting. I have learned a lot from them." 

The restoration of the Ma Ma Me festival of the Kho Mu has improved the awareness of the Lai Chau people about preserving and promoting local traditions and encouraged them to engage more in cultural and tourism activities as a way to improve their economy.