Influence of Votive Dance in the Spiritual Life of the Vietnamese in Lam Dong

Abstract

Votive dance (to mount the medium or going into
trance) is the most important ritual in practicing the mother
goddess belief of the Vietnamese. It is a kind of performing
art including music, invocation songs, dance, costume, props.
It contains many cultural and historical values of the
Vietnamese. This ritual has had certain effects in the spiritual
life of Vietnamese people. Despite the same origin, the
worship of Mother Goddesses in general and the votive dance
in particular have differences depend on each region. This
article focuses on the characteristics of votive dance rituals of
the Vietnamese in Lâm Đồng province, the positive effects as
well as some limitations of this ritual for a part of the
Vietnamese people there.