In Plei Rbai village, elder and Meritorious Artisan Ksor Lol performs the Jrai rain-invoking ritual each year when the dry season peaks. His chants, offered with jar wine and pork, call on the deities of earth and sky to bless the community with rain, good harvests and harmony with nature.
Although the Ayun Hạ now secures water for local fields, the annual ceremony remains a core expression of Jrai belief and identity. Elder Lol says he has already trained five younger villagers to ensure the chant continues after him.
The cultural fabric of Phú Thiện is enriched further by the sound of the tính lute and then singing of the Tày community, many of whom migrated from Cao Bằng in the 1980s and 1990s.
Meritorious Artisan Mã Văn Chức, who has safeguarded this tradition for more than 30 years, not only plays and sings but has composed over 200 phong slư folk songs.
To keep the tradition alive among younger generations, he launched a YouTube channel to share performances and bring Tày culture to wider audiences.
In Plei Tel A village, Meritorious Artisan Kpă H’Uyên keeps the art of Jrai brocade weaving vibrant. She cultivates cotton, gathers forest plants for dye and focuses on intricate patterns that define high-quality brocade.
After teaching weaving classes in 2023, she founded a cooperative of 20 women whose products are now showcased at cultural events and have gained steady orders, providing additional income for local households.
Basket weaving, gong performance and traditional jar-wine making are the passions of Meritorious Artisan Đinh Nhiêu in Plei Kte Lớn A village. Beyond crafting backpacks and household items, he has built miniature nhà rông communal houses for display in schools and agencies.
In 2023, he taught basket weaving to 35 students and remains one of the few artisans capable of performing ancient gong pieces. He continues to gather forest ingredients for fermentation starters, producing jar wine cherished for its distinctive mountain flavor.
Across Phú Thiện, these artisans share a common hope: that younger generations will continue practicing the rituals, music and crafts of their ancestors, ensuring the cultural heritage of the Central Highlands endures long into the future.