The forest god worshipping ceremony of the Jrai ethnic minority people in Ia Grai district of Gia Lai province is held in the spring after local villagers complete the harvest.
On the day of the ceremony, people bring offerings to the place of worship. The place is chosen by a reputable shaman who is knowledgeable about the ritual.
The forest god worshipping ceremony is a long-standing practice that has been passed down from generation to generation in the local Jrai community.
The ethnic minority believe that each forest is ruled by a god. To worship the god of the forest is to pray for his support for the health of villagers and bumper harvests.
Ia Pech commune covers nearly 560 ha of forest area managed by O Grang and De Chi villages. The two take turns in holding the forest god worshipping ceremony each year. This is also intended to enhance the solidarity between the Jrai people in different villages.
Practiced for centuries, the forest god worship ceremony of the Jrai people has contributed to the richness of the country’s traditional cultural values./.
