Pa Then fire-jumping ceremony becomes national intangible heritage
VOV.VN - “Nhảy lửa”, or fire jumping in English, a ritual of the Pa Then ethnic minority people in the mountainous province of Tuyen Quang, has been listed as part of Vietnam’s ’s intangible heritage for the second time.
The recognition aims to preserve and promote the unique festival which strongly expresses the rich culture of the ethnic group.
With regard to the Pa Then ethnic minority, the fire jumping ritual is one of their most significant traditional ceremonies.
Each year on the 16th day of the first lunar month, the Pa Then people, who mostly reside in the province’s Lam Binh district of Hong Quang commune, organise the ritual to thank God for a good year of bumper crops, as well as a prosperous and healthy life.
According to the concept of the Pa Then people, fire can be considered as a supreme god, that is believed to bring good luck and prosperity. They also believe that the fire can be used as a means of avoiding demons and disease.
The ritual includes a prayer ceremony with a number of shamans worshipping the Fire God for luck, happiness, health, and peace.
Young men will then jump over a coal fire without no fear and come away unscathed. They also kick up the coal pile in order to startle those watching. Sometimes they even dig up live coals with their hands or put a live coal in their mouth.
The ceremony is not only a unique cultural activity, but is also a wild and mysterious practice performed by the Pa Then people.
