Lu ethnic group in Lai Chau perform buffalo worship

As one of the least populous ethnic groups in the northern mountainous province of Lai Chau, the Lu people have still managed to preserve their traditional cultural values despite the passing of time. The Su Khon Khoai , or buffalo soul ceremony, is a significant annual ritual held at the start of the new farming season. It reflects the community’s deep gratitude towards the buffaloes that have joined and supported them in farming and helped bring about abundant harvests.

Sunday, May 11, 2025 11:19

The buffalo soul ceremony is a distinctive cultural ritual of the Lu ethnic community in Lai Chau.

This ritual plays a role in preserving and promoting traditional cultural values, while also expressing the humanistic value of agricultural labour among the Lu people.

The ceremony honours the buffaloes that have worked side by side with farmers in their daily labour.

It often takes place as preparations for the new farming season begin.

To prepare for the ceremony, village shamans and elders hold meetings to compile a list of households that own buffaloes, from which they determine the number of animals to be involved in the ritual.

When the auspicious time comes, villagers follow the shamans to bring their buffaloes into the ceremonial area.

The buffaloes are “adorned” for their participation in the event.

Once in the designated space, each buffalo is blessed individually by the shamans.

After the ritual, the buffaloes are fed a portion of the ceremonial offerings by the officiants.

A buffalo that has completed the ritual.

The shamans also tie sacred threads around the wrists of the buffalo owners — a gesture believed to bestow blessings and good fortune upon the families whose buffaloes have taken part in the ceremony.