Lao Ga
The Lao Ga (also Lao Gao, Thai ลาว กา ) are an ethnic group of Lao , in the Thai province of Uthai Thani located.
distribution
The Lao Ga settle mainly in the village of Ban Tabluang ( บ้าน ทัพ หลวง ), Amphoe Ban Rai , in the province of Uthai Thaini in the Chao Phraya Basin in the lower north of Thailand. The Lao Ga speak a dialect of Lao and number around 1,900 people.
history
The Lao Ga are descendants of slaves and forced laborers who were abducted or resettled from Laos and the northeast to central Thailand after the Siamese conquered Lan Xang . This makes them historically related to the Lao Wiang . In contrast to many Lao groups that have merged into the Thai population, the Lao Ga have been able to retain their identity to this day. In the past you have tried to marry only among yourself. Only since the end of the 20th century have there been isolated marriages with other Lao groups, Thai or ethnic Chinese .
Culture
The Lao Ga practice, like the majority in Thailand, the Theravada - Buddhism . Their culture is very similar to that of the Lao .
The traditional occupations of the Lao Ga women are spinning, weaving and dyeing. They are considered to be skilled producers of towels, tablecloths and pillows. Most of the men work in agriculture. In particular, they grow rice, maize, tobacco and sugar cane. They also catch locusts, rice field rats and red ant eggs, which they appreciate as delicacies.
literature
- Joachim Schliesinger: Tai Groups of Thailand. Profile of the existing groups. White Lotus Press, 2001. Chapter “Lao Ga”, p. 21 ff.