Akha Swing Ceremony In Thailand

In Thailand, Akha is the tribal the public who live in the hills of Chiang Rai, the Northern Province. The Swing formality of Akha tribal the public is held between mid-August and September. This ritual takes place just two months before corn and rice are ready for harvesting. Celebrating the Swing Festival is a way of saying thanks and expressing respect for food. The festival is celebrated for four days and night by dancing, singing, feasting and enjoyment.The Akha people believe in worshipping their ancestors, as they believe after the death of an elder,

they become their babysitter and look after their welfare. They also think that the bounty crops are blessings of their ancestors.This annual Swing ritual also acts as a transition from adolescence to adulthood. During this formality Akha girls are dressed as a full grown adult with ornamental head dress which is designed to reflect different stages of a woman's life.On the first day of the festival all family members gather at 11 in the morning to prepare for their ritual offerings. They offer one red and one black chicken along with wine, ginger, tealeaves and other items to their ancestors at noon. Then through out the night they dance and sing.The subordinate day is the most important of all days. It involves the whole community and village priest, and the tribal elders lead the ritual. They dismantle the old swing erected the prior year and put up a new swing in that place.On the third day, offerings are made at the appear and upon the final day; the village priest declares the end of the formality which is held again the following year.