The annual Aza festival represents a unique part of the cultural practices of the Ta Oi ethnic group, with members of the community coming together to pray for a bumper crop and good health.
The Aza festival is a long-standing practice among the Ta Oi ethnic community as they bid farewell to the old year and welcome in the new one.
The ceremony also allows them to pay respect and gratitude to the gods, whilst also praying for favourable weather conditions and bumper crops for the upcoming year.
In each village among the community, local people will choose the day they consider as the most blessed on which to celebrate the festival.
Offerings given at the Aza festival include rice, sticky rice, traditional cakes, roosters, pigs, ducks, goats, and plant seeds.
Each household and family residing in the village holds their own worshipping ritual at home.
Representatives of various clans go around a tree with their offerings after getting permission from local shamans.
The Ta Oi people celebrate the Aza festival as they pray for a better New Year, good health, and for success for their children.
