On 11/4, residents from two villages, O Grang and De Chi (Gao commune), carried meat, ghe (jars of alcohol), pigs, chickens, and com lam (bamboo-tube rice) up Ia Cor mountain, about 3 kilometers from the center, to prepare for the ritual. This year's forest offering ceremony was performed by village elders Puih Long and Siu Toi.

The ritual of gratitude to the forest god was performed by village elders Puih Long and Siu Toi. *Photo: Ngoc Oanh*

The ritual lasted about 20 minutes, conveying wishes for a year of good fortune, peace, and freedom from illness. Afterward, they shared grilled meat and com lam, a characteristic dish of the Jarai people, and danced the xoang dance beneath the canopy of the old forest.

Village elder Puih Long stated that this tradition helps residents develop an awareness of forest protection, encouraging them not to illegally log forests, to actively plant trees, and to educate future generations to be grateful for and protect the forest as they would their own lives.

The Jarai people's forest offering ritual in the Central Highlands is a long-standing tradition, formed and passed down through many generations, intrinsically linked to animistic beliefs. The festival is usually held in the spring (around March-April) to thank the forest god (Giang) for protecting the villagers and to pray for favorable weather. According to the beliefs of ethnic minority communities in the Central Highlands, the forest is the "home" of the deities, sheltering villagers from natural disasters.

Villagers eat, drink, and perform the xoang dance in the forest. *Photo: Ngoc Oanh*

Mr. Siu Thunh, Vice Chairman of Gao commune People's Committee, stated that the forest offering ritual not only helps preserve and promote the ethnic group's valuable traditional culture but also raises community awareness in protecting forest resources and maintaining a sustainable ecological environment. The activity also serves as an opportunity to promote the image, people, and unique cultural identity of the locality, especially in the first year Gia Lai has been chosen to host the National Tourism Year.

Tran Hoa