Ethnic Relationship in Religious Life and Traditional Festivals of Tu Di Ethnic Group in Muong Khuong District, Lao Cai Province

Abstract

At present, Tu Di people in Muong Khuong district live intermingled with many ethnicities in the region and are under quite strong influence from cultural elements of other ethnicities. Thus, for their current religious rituals, the organization has been arranged and has become briefly, the component of attenders also has changed etc. The widening of trade relationship with co-ethnic and non-co-ethnic people in the opposite border side has made Tu Di people have more friends attending their religious rituals; the offerings of  attenders from long distance in the religious rituals has been replaced by cash. Whenever there is religious ritual, a number of Tu Di people pay attention on buying cakes and sweetmeats from market to offer their spirits and use in their traditional festivals, especially in the traditional New Year and so on. Despite the above presented changes, the community cohesion of Tu Di people still has been enhanced, especially in the occasions of setting up new house, funeral and so on