VietNamNet Bridge - As part of the New Year celebration of 19 ethnic groups in the Vietnam Ethnic Culture Village in Son Tay, Hanoi, the fire jumping ceremony of the Pa Then people took place on the evening of February 20, with the participation of hundreds of people.

Before performers dance on the burning coal, an oracle sits on a long bench
to worship the god. The offerings include an incense, a bowl of boiled pork,
5 cups of wine and votive money.
The shaman performs the ceremony for about 2 hours to
wait for souls to enter the boys sitting nearby.
When the ceremony started, the boys bended their bodies and danced on burning charcoals.
They could use their hands to touch and walk on burning charcoals.
Mr. Van, one of the dancers in the performance, said that any Pa Then man can
dance on burning charcoals like him, as long as oracles make offerings and
some strength enters their bodies.
According to the belief of the Pa Then, the power of divine protects them from burns.

This guest, after being permitted by the oracle, could also dance on fire.
Whether he did not dance in the right type of Pa Then people, he still was not burned.
The fire dance lasted about 30 minutes until the coal completely burned down.
A young man showed his hands that only looked black, without burns, after the performance.


VNE