(HBO)- The Dinh Ngoi (Ngoi Communal House) festival 2019 kicked off in Su Ngoi commune of Hoa Binh city on February 13 (the 9th day of the first lunar month of the Year of Pig 2019).
The rite of Via Lua (Rice God) procession to the Ngoi
Communal House in the opening day of the festival
The festival annually takes place on the 8th-9thdays of thefirst lunar month to commemorate the gods of the village, who contributed
to building, preserving and protecting the country and the homeland. It also
aims to pray for a peaceful and happy new year, good harvests, and health for villagers.
The festival includes the procession of Via Nuoc (Water God) and Via Lua (Rice
God), worshipping, incense and alcohol offering in the communal house.
The festive activities include art exchanges, Muong gong performances, display
of Muong people’s foods, traditional sports competitions and folk games.
The festival contributes to maintaining and preserving
cultural and historical values of the locality. It also offers a chance for
locals to educate their traditions for young generations, as well as promote Hoa
Binh’s beliefs to visitors./.
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 This effort requires not only protecting the cultural identity but also eliminating outdated customs and developing a modern cultural lifestyle, contributing to sustainable values for the Muong community in Hoa Binh province.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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