(HBO) - The Hang Pagoda - Chua Cave Festival kicked off in Yen Tri commune, Yen Thuy district of Hoa Binh province on February 19 (the 15th day of the first lunar month).
Hang Pagoda was recognized as a national
historical and cultural relic site by the Ministry of Culture and Information
(now the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism) in 1994. The pagoda,
including two ancient pagodas, is located on a cliff. It was built by predecessors
a long time ago and was embellished during the reign of King Khai
Dinh.
During the two resistance wars against the French colonialists and the American
imperialists (1955-1975), Hang Pagoda served as the headquarters of the Vietnamese
army and was the place where the army hid weapons and food to serve the
resistance wars.
Art performance at the festival
The Hang Pagoda festival offers a chance
for tourists and local people to visit the pagoda. Everyone offers an incense to express their
respect to the Buddha, and pray for health, happiness and prosperity.
The festival includes incense and flower offerings
to pray for peace and health. Meanwhile, festive activities are art and culture
performances and volleyball competitions among teams of hamlets in the commune./.
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 This effort requires not only protecting the cultural identity but also eliminating outdated customs and developing a modern cultural lifestyle, contributing to sustainable values for the Muong community in Hoa Binh province.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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