the Guardian Spirit Ritual of Lau,Mae Hong Son Province

1987 – Youths herd cattle to the top of the mountain in order to slaughter them and offer them to the guardian spirit. Large animals represent people in the community.

the Guardian Spirit Ritual of Lau,Mae Hong Son Province

1987 – Youths herd cattle to the top of the mountain in order to slaughter them and offer them to the guardian spirit. Large animals represent people in the community.

the Guardian Spirit Ritual of Lau,Mae Hong Son Province

1987 – Youths herd cattle to the top of the mountain in order to slaughter them and offer them to the guardian spirit. Large animals represent people in the community.

the Guardian Spirit Ritual of Lau,Mae Hong Son Province

1987 – Youths herd cattle to the top of the mountain in order to slaughter them and offer them to the guardian spirit. Large animals represent people in the community.

the Guardian Spirit Ritual of Lau,Mae Hong Son Province

1987 – The sao sakang post. On the day before the ritual groups of youths and boys guard the cattle and also guard over the sao sakang and yu (the ritual house, where the meat is stored after the slaughter).

the Guardian Spirit Ritual of Lau,Mae Hong Son Province

1987 – The sao sakang post. On the day before the ritual groups of youths and boys guard the cattle and also guard over the sao sakang and yu (the ritual house, where the meat is stored after the slaughter).

the Guardian Spirit Ritual of Lau,Mae Hong Son Province

1987 – The ritual is conducted in the forest on high land near the sao sakang. The ritual chief invites the guardian spirit to the ritual and informs them about the offering by pouring liquor onto the ground.

the Guardian Spirit Ritual of Lau,Mae Hong Son Province

1987 – The ritual is conducted in the forest on high land near the sao sakang. The ritual chief pays his respects to the Tung Ngo spirit. The ritual takes place under a large tree. Every household wraps up a banana leaf filled with grilled chicken and glutinous rice and brings it to the spirit house. The chickens are believed to represent the household.