The grains of rice and rice paddies that are still scattered in the fields according to the conception of the Mong people are the rice spirits wandering, not coming home yet, so they need to call them. If you do not call them back, the next rice crop will lose season and fall. This is a very unique ceremony, containing mysterious spiritual beliefs of Mong people in Sapa.

Each family has a ritual to call rice spirits at different times. The Surname and the Sung family call the rice spirit on the morning of the 30th day of the New Year. The Lu family, the Golden family, any day after harvesting, they convenient every day to call the rice spirit on that day. They are called "rice" on the first day of the month after harvesting and must call on the day of the dog and the chicken. Because in their opinion, the dog is the animal that brings the plant varieties back.

People use chicken (spicy) to call the rice spirits wandering home. According to the conception of the compatriots, the chicken is used in the ceremony to call the soul of rice as a bridge to connect the spirit of rice spirit. When the rice souls go home, the next year rice crop will be bumper. Depending on each line they have different ways of choosing chickens, be it a red rooster or a hen. The head of the family represents the whole family to perform the ritual to call the rice soul home.

They said Cao (father) and Sung family did not bring chickens to the field to call them back, but used a pair of one drum chicken, one stood in front of the house and called the rice spirit back. The family of Mã and Họ Vang, although the time of making the rice call ceremony is different, the way of worshiping is similar. In the morning, the ceremony for the owner of the family left hand holding the rooster and the back of the bearer went to the edge of the field one by one and said that the rice spirits were still in the field, then go home, not wandering in the field anymore. When going to each field, the head of the family picked up the leftover rice fields in the field and put it in the burial cloth on his back, went to the edge of his field, as the ceremony to call the soul of rice ended. The family boss brought the chicken home and meat for the whole family to eat.

If you want to witness and participate in the rice call ceremony, go to Sa Pa at the end of the harvest season. Surely you will have curious, interesting emotions about the mystery of this ritual.

Vu Khanh