Monks performing ritual prayers

Sip Chidoe - Grand prayer cercemony to ward off obstacles for the nation

Conducting prayers

Hoisting huge prayer flag

Suppressing or subjugating negative forces through performance of ritual prayers

Benediction is a powerful expression of the miraculous capacity of words. It is one of the genres of Mongolian oral poetry that uses melodies. Benedictions propitiate people’s future happiness and well-being through skillfully composed and recited poems. It is unique in a way that minstrels sing the benediction completely from memory, and also by adding their own versions of words or improvising totally new verses to fit particular situations or events. By the invitation of people, a person who knows the order of feast and ceremonies well and mastered in the benediction and its melody says the benediction with use of the holly silk scarf, milk in the silver bowl, and Airag in bowl. The benediction is oral poetry which contains a beginning, main part and ending part.

Benediction is a powerful expression of the miraculous capacity of words. It is one of the genres of Mongolian oral poetry that uses melodies. Benedictions propitiate people’s future happiness and well-being through skillfully composed and recited poems. It is unique in a way that minstrels sing the benediction completely from memory, and also by adding their own versions of words or improvising totally new verses to fit particular situations or events. By the invitation of people, a person who knows the order of feast and ceremonies well and mastered in the benediction and its melody says the benediction with use of the holly silk scarf, milk in the silver bowl, and Airag in bowl. The benediction is oral poetry which contains a beginning, main part and ending part.

Text of prayer, which has different kinds and forms. Prayers are spelled before the starting works, before going to a trip, after having meal and etc.

Text of prayer, which has different kinds and forms. Prayers are spelled before the starting works, before going to a trip, after having meal and etc.

Text of prayer, which has different kinds and forms. Prayers are spelled before the starting works, before going to a trip, after having meal and etc.

Pơtao Apui refers to the joining of the Fire Lord (Lord of the East) with the Water Lord (Lord of the West)—the two highest-ranking lords of the minority peoples’ earliest religious system in the Central Highlands of Vietnam. The lords have supernatural powers, particularly the ability to change drought into rain, bringing about water for the maintenance of the lives of all beings, thanks to the power of their mystical sword, ơi Tha (“old man”). This rain ritual is one of the most iconic rituals of Pơtao Apui, who is the only being who can communicate with the lords to ask for rain, using the mystical sword as a medium.

New rice festival of the La Chí ethnic group