(HBO) - The People’s Committee of Lac Son district in the northern province of Hoa Binh has organised a ceremony to receive a certificate recognising Truong Kha temple in Lien Vu commune (Lac Son) as a provincial cultural, historical relic site.
The ceremony was
also to re-enact the Truong Kha temple festival.
The Truong Kha temple is located in Chieng
hamlet, Lien Vu commune. It was built in the 15th century and restored by
locals in 1997 with roof tiles, a wooden altar arranged with ceramic incense
bowls and some worshipping items.
In 2013, through capital sources mobilised among
individuals and organisations, people in the commune rebuilt the temple on the
foundation of the old one as a place of worshipping. Legend has it that the
Truong Kha temple worshipped three Kun Dol gods who protect rice crops and
cultivation of Muong people and they were worshipped by locals in the ancient Voi
Trao area as tutelary gods.
The Truong Kha temple festival is held annually
on the 15th and 16th day of the third lunar month. It is called bumper-crop praying
festival with rituals such as a procession of the three Kun Dol gods, shooting
white buffalos with Oong Thoong pipe, praying for rain and fishing. Besides,
people could participate in national sports, folk games and art exchanges.
With historical and cultural values, the Truong
Kha temple festival in Lien Vu commune (Lac Son) has been recognised as a
provincial cultural, historical relic site by the provincial People’s Committee
under Decision No.12/QD-UBND./.
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 This effort requires not only protecting the cultural identity but also eliminating outdated customs and developing a modern cultural lifestyle, contributing to sustainable values for the Muong community in Hoa Binh province.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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