Unique hair washing ritual of the Thai ethnic group
He then offers incense to the ancestors, praying for good luck. The sorcerer also offers incense to earth, river and stream gods, praying for blessings for local villagers. The present-day hair washing ceremony is of profound humanity as it expresses people’s faith in gods, wishing for good things. Two or three weeks before the ceremony, Thai women prepare their special shampoo by washing sticky rice and keeping the rice water in an earthen pot for at least one week until it turns sour. Sour rice water is believed to make the hair smooth and shiny. The shampoo for men is soap berry liquid made from soap berries burnt and then soaked in hot water. The ceremony is said to bring the family good luck if a young girl is selected to participate in it. Each villager participating in the festival prepares a bamboo tube containing sour rice water to wash their hair. The ritual is held by the village’s steam nearby.