A Rieu Car, a unique festival of the Pa Co

The A Rieu Car festival is an age-old custom, held every 5 to 7 years, and every 10 to 20 years on a larger scale. The festival, which rotates among the villages, takes place after the rice crop is planted. The key participants are senior villagers and heads of family clans from each village.

The A Rieu Car festival involves 23 rites, including announcing the festival, greeting guests at the village gate, expressing respect for the guests, and showing hospitality to the guests.

A buffalo sacrifice is the central rite of the festival. This offering expresses gratitude to the gods who bestow the rivers, springs, land, and precious natural resources to build houses and have a prosperous life. After multiple worship rituals, the patriarchs perform a rite to say farewell to the guests and end the festival.

Patriarch Le Tuan Mo of A Luoi district, said, “The A Rieu Car festival takes place over 2 days. At the end of the second day, the host patriarch performs a rite to see off the other patriarchs.”

A Luoi district’s recent A Rieu Car festival was attended by 50 artisans and artists. Nguyen Thi Hai Ly, a Pa Co woman from A Luoi district, shared, “The artisans and artists trained a lot before the festival. A Rieu Car is one of the the biggest festivals of the Pa Co.”

The A Rieu Car festival aims to preserve and promote the beliefs and culture of ethnic minority groups, introduce the beauty of the local mountains to visitors, and boost Thua Thien-Hue tourism.

Le Thi Them, head of the Culture and Information Office in A Luoi district, said, “Artisans, artists, and others from many villages attended the festival. This traditional festival of the Pa Co is joyful.”

Because the Pa Co villages are far from each other and the villagers don’t often meet, the A Rieu Car festival attracts people from near and far. It’s a get-together that enhances community bonds and lets them share their experience with each other.