(HBO) – The Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Hoa Binh recently held the 2018 art festival for the province’s outstanding grassroots-level art troupes, in Lac Thuy district.
Organisers
present memorial flags to participating troupes.
Performance
of the art troupe in Vai hamlet, Thanh Nong commune (Lac Thuy district)
Nearly 300 artists, actors and actresses from 11 outstanding grassroots-level
art teams in 11 districts and cities participated in the festival. They
represented more than 2,000 art troupes in all villages, hamlets and
residential clusters in Hoa Binh province.
During the two-day event, the art troupes staged nearly 40
performances praising patriotism, the Communist Party of Vietnam and President
Ho Chi Minh, and the national target programme on building new-style rural
areas.
According to organisers, the performances this year were of better
quality compared to the previous edition, as the teams had thoroughly prepared
content, costumes, and props. Each programme was built on a consistent theme
which is close to people’s lives.
Notably, most of the troupes used folk melodies, dances and
traditional music instruments in their performances, thus creating a colourful
art festival which aimed to honour, preserve and develop traditional cultural
values.
At the end of the festival, organisers presented four first prizes,
eight second, and 12 third prizes, along with 12 consolation prizes in singing
and dancing categories.
In general, the first prize was granted to the art troupe from Vai
hamlet, Thanh Nong commune (Lac Thuy district).
Those from Moi Mit hamlet of Yen Mong commune (Hoa Binh city) and
Du 7A hamlet of Mong Hoa commune (Ky Son district) received second prizes.
The third prizes were given to troupes from Van hamlet, Mai Chau
town (Mai Chau district), Lien Tien hamlet in Ngoc Luong commune (Yen Thuy
district), and Ma hamlet, Bac Phong commune (Cao Phong district) while five
consolation prizes were presented to the remaining teams./.
Gongs hold a special place in the cultural and spiritual life of the Muong ethnic people in Hoa Binh province. More than musical instruments, they are an indispensable part of community rituals and collective memory, echoing through generations as a spiritual thread linking the past, present, and future.
Preserving and promoting the cultural values of the Muong ethnic group has become an urgent task in the current context, as many traditional values face the risk of fading away. This effort requires not only protecting the cultural identity but also eliminating outdated customs and developing a modern cultural lifestyle, contributing to sustainable values for the Muong community in Hoa Binh province.
The Muong ethnic culture, deeply rooted in Vietnam’s mountainous north, continues to be preserved and revitalised by dedicated individuals and communities determined to safeguard their ancestral identity.
The Muong group is one of the largest ethnic minorities in Vietnam, primarily found in Hoa Binh province. The Muong people in Hoa Binh boast a rich and diverse cultural treasure that reflects the unique identity of this ethnic group. Accounting for over 63% of the province's population, they have created and preserved numerous distinctive cultural values, contributing to their unique identity. Their cultural heritage is an invaluable asset, at the heart of their national identity, and represents a vibrant spiritual life that must be preserved and promoted in today’s modern world.
For generations, the ethnic communities of Hoa Binh province, particularly the Muong people, have preserved vibrant festivals deeply intertwined with the region’s geography, nature, and social traditions. These celebrations enrich Hoa Binh’s spiritual life and cultural identity, reflecting both folk beliefs and the intermingling of ethnic customs. Many of these festivals have endured the test of time, passed down through generations and continuing to thrive today. Among them, the Khai Ha (Going Down to the Field) festival stands out as one of the most significant events of the Muong ethnic group.
Muong calendar, known as sach doi, is an ancient folk knowledge system developed through observations of the movement of the pleiades star. This unique calendar consists of 12 bamboo sticks, each representing a lunar month. Specific days within each month are marked with distinct symbols, guiding locals in determining auspicious and inauspicious days for important activities.
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