YANGKOI - A TRADITIONAL AND ORIGINAL CELEBRATION OF MA PEOPLES.

 Viet Nam-the diversified culture country which is combined of fifty four nationalities.Every nationalities has own a different tradition culture with a lot of colorful celebration.Especially,with ethnic minorities, their celebrations not only very original but aslo really enjoyable. One of them  is the Rice God worship of Ma peoples which is called YANGKOI by their language. Ma is an ethnic minority living in Dinh Quan and Tan Phu district,Dong Nai province.In a year,Ma peoples have a lot of celebrations; however YANKOI is always considerd the most important and Rice God is the most miraculous God in their spirit. This original celebration  is organized to show their deep gratitude to Rice god who give them a great crop. It usually takes place on February or March in the Lunar year depending on the day Ma peoples finish their harvest. In this celebration,Ma peoples worship Rice God and together eat and play through night.YANGKOI is prepared about four day before begining.

To make YANGKOI ready,Ma peoples always prepare some necessary presents. First, Ma men go to forest to cut down some bamboos which must be high, straight  and bring them at the houseyard. Then they choose two young, straight, 3 to 4 met  bamboos and split the summit of trees into braches. Next, they decorate them by putting a bunch of 'gai may' which symbolize for rice flower at the middle of each tree.Finally, they wind colorful cords around the body of trees and a lively symbol of a goat making by bamboo strings is added. After that they hide bamboos on the ground in front of houseyard.Beside that, Ma women prepare a small rice bowl and a cup of Can alcohol. Depending on economy condition Ma peoples prepare chicken, duck, goat's meat or port, beef. They do not forget to clean the altar and decorate them with a new cjoss-stick bowl and a bowl of sailt. Coming these village in this time, we all live in an bustling and joyful atmosphere of each one, each house.

In the morning taking place YANGKOI, Ma peoples perform traditional rituals. First, they put a bowl of rice in the bunch of 'gai may' flower and put a cup of Can alcohol at the foot of each bamboo which are prepared in the previous day.Then they put meat, alcohol on the altar. At last, they start to worship. In a village, on behalf of all members the theeldest man will worship at the tradition house. In private house, the owners can worship by themselves or invite officants.They  prostrate Rice God and pray with a rhythm contain: '' Oh, Rice God, rice under water, rice under muddy. Let's come my home to eat chicken, eat duck with me. I pray Rice God  give me a victory crop,etc''.While Ma people worship, they open all doors to invite Rice God.

When night coming, the celebration is really interesting. All villagers together enjoy eating, drinking Can alcohol, singing, dancing in the bright moonlight. A lot of heathy men play the pan-pine whose melody is very smooth, peaceful. Mixing in this melody is the sweet voice of pretty women .For tradition, it lasts during 3 days, even all week. This is the chance for Ma peoples express their grateful to Rice God and enjoy themselve after a hard crop.

Although scale, rituals of YANGKOI are more simple than in the past, this celebration is always the most important which express their original spirit as well as their gratefuf to RiceGod.