WEDDING CEREMONY OF THE MA PEOPLE IN QUANG KHE COMMUNE, LAM DONG PROVINCE – TRADITIONAL AND MODERN VALUE

Abstract

The article analyzes the transformation of values in the wedding rituals of the Ma ethnic group in Dak Plao commune, Dak Glong district, formerly part of Dak Nong province and now belonging to Quang Khe commune, Lam Dong province, from the perspective of socio-cultural anthropology, grounded in structural theory of ritual. The study reveals that traditional elements in Ma weddings are undergoing transformation under the influence of the market economy, legal value systems, and technological advancements. The wedding ceremony is not merely a cultural symbol but also a social arena in which kinship, clan, and community relationships are restructured. This transformation is manifested through the integration of diverse material and spiritual resources, as well as the cultural blending resulting from interethnic co-residence.