Abstract: This study investigates the emergence of virtual collective consciousness (VCC) during symbolic social rituals in metaverse environments. Drawing on Durkheim's theory of collective effervescence and Castells' concept of networked sociality, the study examines how co-performed activities relate to shared identity and group affiliation in digital spaces. A ritualized beach gathering was staged in a university-hosted metaverse platform, where 68 students recruited through targeted outreach participated in synchronized symbolic actions, including countdowns, avatar emotes, and the communal observation of a virtual sunset. Designed to simulate digitally mediated ritual, the event provided a context for examining affective engagement, social connection, and symbolic participation. Findings showed that emotional engagement and ritual participation were positively related to collective identity, whereas behavioral indicators such as avatar synchrony and spatial proximity were not significant predictors. Prior metaverse experience was linked to greater emotional engagement but showed no significant relationship with identity formation. Collective identity was also statistically implicated in an indirect association between emotional engagement and reported intentions to reconnect with the virtual community. Exploratory factor analysis suggested an indicative two-dimensional structure of VCC, comprising socio-emotional immersion and symbolic participation. These results suggest that meaningful group connection in virtual settings may depend more on shared emotional symbolism than on visible coordination alone. Overall, the findings provide associational evidence on how virtual rituals may relate to perceived social bonds, with implications for sociological theory and the design of collective experiences in digital environments.