The event was organised by the ward’s Department of Culture and Society and drew local leaders, tourism representatives and a large number of residents.
Attendees included Nguyễn Xuân Phước, a member of the Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the Ward People’s Council; Đặng Toàn Thắng, Chairman of the Ward People’s Committee; representatives of the Gia Lai Provincial Tourism Association; and officials from various local departments and organisations.
The engagement ceremony, also known as the betrothal ceremony, is one of the most important rituals in Jrai culture, symbolising the formal beginning of married life for a couple.
During the reenactment, artisans carefully reproduced the traditional rites, including the groom’s family offering gifts to the bride’s family, the role of the matchmaker in connecting the two families, and the exchange of copper bracelets as a pledge of engagement. The ritual concluded with the couple sharing sticky rice balls and chicken drumsticks, symbolising a lifelong bond.
After the formal ceremony, the programme continued with a cultural festival highlighting Jrai traditions. Residents and guests took part in preparing grilled chicken, bamboo-tube rice and pounding cassava leaves, while enjoying gong performances and traditional dances such as “Celebrating the New Rice” and “Victory Celebration.”
Local authorities said the revival of the engagement ceremony contributes to preserving the cultural identity of more than 200 Jrai households in Ơp village, while also helping to develop distinctive community-based tourism products and improve the material and spiritual lives of local residents.
