(HBO) – A ceremony was held on February 22 to receive a certificate acknowledging Mau (Mother Goddesses) temple in Vu Lam commune (Lac Son district) of the northwestern mountainous province of Hoa Binh as a provincial historical, culture relic.
Vice Director of
provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism Bui Xuan Truong presents
the certificate recognising Mau temple as provincial historical, culture relic
to leaders of Vu Lam commune (Lac Son district).
The temple is located on
Lam Hoa 1 street in Vu Lam commune (Lac Son district). It was built in 1920 in
an area of about 30 sq.m. by local people, with one room and four pillars of simple
ancient architecture, along with a thatch roof and wooden walls. An altar
honouring three Mother Goddesses was placed inside the temple.
In 1922, residents of the
street donated money to improve the temple in a larger area of 100 sq.m.
The Mau temple festival of
the Muong ethnic people is celebrated on the third day of the third lunar
month, the tenth day of the six month and the twentieth day of the ninth month.
Ever since its establishment, the temple has been a centre for cultural and
communal activities where people pray for the country’s peace, fair weather and
happiness.
An art performance of the
art troupe in Vu Lam commune (Lac Son district).
To conserve and develop
traditional cultural values, on June 22, 2018, the Hoa Binh People’s Committee
issued a decision on recognising the temple as a provincial historical and
cultural relic. This is an encouragement for the authorities and people in Vu
Lam in particular and Lac Son district in general to be more determined to
enhance the values of the relic, drawing more tourists to the temple and
contributing to the culture conservation and development in Lac Son./.
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 This effort requires not only protecting the cultural identity but also eliminating outdated customs and developing a modern cultural lifestyle, contributing to sustainable values for the Muong community in Hoa Binh province.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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