Fon Dueng Khrok Dueng Sak (Mortar and Pestle Tug-of-War Dance)

Creator:Roi Et College of Dramatic Arts

"Fon Dueng Khrok Dueng Sak" is a traditional dance created in 1982 by instructors at the Roi Et College of Dramatic Arts, based on field research of a local rain-predicting ritual performed by the Tai Lao community in Ban Mueang Thong, Mueang District, Roi Et. The ritual, performed at the end of the dry season, involves a tug-of-war using a pestle tied to a rope over a mortar, with men on one side and women on the other, to predict the year's rainfall (e.g., if the women win, it signifies abundant water for farming). The performance features traditional movements such as Tha Thawai Thaen, Tha Muay Thai, and Tha Yung Lam Phaen, set to Isan folk melodies.