Green rice flakes refinements
For the Tay ethnic group, this festival marks the closing of a year of hard work in farming and planting. It is a ceremony of gratitude to heaven, earth, deities, the "Rice God," Mother Moon, and ancestral spirits for blessing them with a bountiful harvest. At the same time, it is a celebration of the new rice season in the tenth lunar month and a moon festival. Today, some localities in Tuyen Quang still hold the festival, mainly in the communes of Con Lon, Yen Hoa, Thuong Nong, and Thuong Giap (Na Hang District) and Trung Ha (Chiem Hoa District).
The festival usually takes place in the eighth or ninth lunar month each year. The exact date is not fixed but is determined by a Then shaman, who selects an auspicious day.
The festival consists of two parts: the ceremonial rituals and the festive activities. The ceremony involves a procession to bring the rice spirit from the fields to the altar. After the ritual, villagers harvest glutinous rice from the fields and begin the process of pounding it into young rice flakes. The festival section includes a pounding competition, traditional folk games, and a countryside market showcasing local agricultural products.
The Green Rice Pounding Festival is a time for the Tay people to honor their ancestors and deities for their protection and blessings of a bountiful harvest. It also fosters community ties and provides visitors with an immersive experience of the Tay’s rich cultural heritage.
Nguyen Thanh Hieu
