Unique 12-lamp coming-of-age ceremony of the Dao people in the Northwest

According to shaman Ly Phu Seo, Trung Chai commune, Sa Pa town, Lao Cai province, preparing for the 12-lamp ordination ceremony usually takes many months because there are hundreds of big and small tasks to do, including sewing and buying clothes, accessories, cutting paper, building a hut, setting up an altar, preparing the ceremony, and logistics. The ordination process also has many stages such as welcoming the master, reporting to ancestors, hanging paintings, wrapping rice, inviting gods, inviting the Jade Emperor, setting up lamps, and granting permission. Each stage in the 12-lamp ordination ceremony is even more complicated. In particular, Dao men who are ordained not only mark their maturity but also have the opportunity to become masters.