Begnas is a rice ritual that the elders are trying to keep
sacred for past year. It has been part of the old tradition of the Igorot
elders in their town. As years passed begnas is a community activity that is
being performed in dap-ay. Begnas also called for guidance, cleansing,
thanksgiving, and good harvest.
According to lolo Kulagtong, one of the elders here in
lubon. Sipik is the first ritual they do during the begnas. The elders are
going to the dap-ay and they will butcher a chicken for the ritual. After that the
elders are going to the rice fields to continue the ritual and that what we
called GIYAW they will ask for good fortune. While going there the people will
play their “agipak” (wooden shields) with a piece of wood. After the ritual the
people will go back to the dap-ay playing their agipak. When they arrive in the
area they still playing their agipak and the people within the area will dance
the traditional dance of the igorots. While waiting for the food to be cook.
In the second day of the begnas the elders will continue to
do the ritual called “patay” they will go to the “papatayan” to butcher a pig.
When the elders returns to the dap-ay they continue the dancing and playing
gongs. At five o’clock in the afternoon they will stop playing the gongs and
they will continue the ritual called “daw-es” it is a cleansing ritual to give
thanks to the kabunyan.
For the third day, the “pakde”
will begin. The elders will make sure that all the community members are all in
their homes. So that the pakde will commences. They will butcher a pig for the
ritual and after that they will distribute a slice of meat or “wadag” per
household in the community. After three days, they will do the “gipi” one old
woman will begin the “ani” (harvesting of rice). They will wait again for days
to pass by then everyone will allow to go to the rice field to harvest their
plants.
