According to custom, before "Ga Ma Do" ceremony take place, the Ha Nhi people had to hold a village-banning ceremony, everyone tightens banning string on the main roads leading to the village. They believe that doing so will prohibit evil spirits from harming the villagers

On the morning of February 25, households of Ha Nhi people gathered at the main water sources of the village to worship the sacred water source. When performing the ritual, the offering includes: A pair of chickens, a yellow sticky rice ball with a boiled egg in the middle, a tube of un-distilled glutinous rice wine contained in an old bamboo tube, a small bamboo branch straw, a water tube taken from sacred water, a pair of wooden cutting boards, nine ceramic bowls and two pairs of chopsticks.

After giving offerings to the water god, the main priest will divide and share equally for everyone to enjoy the god's fortune together.

In the afternoon of the same day, the the men who are breakmakers of families gather in the sacred forest to hold the forest worshiping ceremony "Ga Ma Do". The sacred forest is always located at the highest position of the village. Ha Nhi people think that: whether hamlet or village is peaceful, people are healthy, animals and poultry grow, or plants are lush or not depends much on this sacred forest. Therefore, to pray for peace and development, every year, the villagers hold a thoughtful "Ga Ma Do" ritual of worship. Everyone must be very sincere, obey the rules from the ancient times set by his grandfather. People who enter the forest must also wear dark color clothes, wear a hat, and barefoot in forest worshiping area.

The offering included: A black pig, a pair of chickens; a yellow sticky rice roll with a hard-boiled egg in the middle ...

Shaman Ly Go Do, Ta Gi Thang village, Y Ty commune (Bat Xat) said: Ha Nhi people annually organize water and forest worship at the beginning of the new year in order to wish for a new year of health and business, lucky production, and bountiful crops. The ritual in the sacred forest "Ga Ma Do" reminds generations of Ha Nhi people in the same village to be conscious in protecting this sacred forest, which is not allowed to be violated. At the same time, this forest worshiping ceremony is also an opportunity for villagers to express their wishes to the noble Gods for a peaceful life for the whole year.

"Ga Ma Do" worshiping ceremony of Ha Nhi people in Bat Xat has profound educational value, not only preserving the cultural identity of the ethnic group, but also creating a strong connection of the community, showing respect to water deities and forest gods with wish for a prosperous, peaceful and happy life.

In the morning of January 14, families in Ta Di Thang village, Y Ty commune (Bat Xat district) worship their ancestors before joining "Ga Ma Do" ceremony”.

Representative of each family bring a stick of firewood to worship the water source.

Worship place is the common water source of the village, everyone join hands to clean the water.

Two shamen present a reason before slaughtering the chicken to worship the sacred water source

Offerings included chicken, colored sticky rice, ginger tea, and wine …

Shaman gives thanksgiving to the Water God, praying rain, wind, and good crops for the new year.

After the ceremony, representative of families enjoy the fortune divided equally by the shaman.

All enjoy the fortune together right next to the water source of the village.

In the afternoon of the same day, representative of families present at =forbidden forest of the village to hold a ceremony to worship Forest God.

Prepare offerings to workship Forest God.

Shaman performs a ceremony to give thanks to Forest God and pray to Forest God bless the whole village to be healthy and prosperous.

Divide fortune to representative of families to enjoy after forest god ceremony.

"Ga Ma Do" ceremony dinner is held in the forbidden forest of the village until evening.