White Thai ethnic people celebrate young rice festival

The festival is held annually between late autumn and early winter.

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This year sees the festival held at Muong So field in Phong Tho district, the largest rice granary in the locality.

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Coming from mountain lanes, Thai ethnic people in their colourful costume converge on Muong So commune to take part in the festival.

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Local residents perform a ritual to worship the rice’s soul and to express their gratitude to God of agriculture.

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They believe that people on earth are influenced by heaven and gods. Heaven sends a representative to earth to communicate with people and to bring happiness, good health, favourable weather, and bumper crops, then also allows people to express their wishes and desires to gods.

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Locals select plump rice ears for the ritual to worship the rice’s soul as a way of expressing people’s gratitude to God of agriculture.

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The festival attracts plenty of tourists who are keen to learn more about the culture of the white Thai people, as well as various specialties of Phong Tho district.