(HBO) - In Muong villages, the buffalo image is always attached to farmers. According to the farmers in Muong villages, plowing and harrowing with buffaloes helps the soil better and helps the rice less susceptible to pests and diseases. Therefore, the people in Muong Bi (Tan Lac) still maintain plowing, harrowing and preparing oil for rice cultivation with buffaloes.
The teams performing the rituals of plowing in early spring
at Khai Ha ceremony in Muong Bi in 2020.
In order to reappear the rituals of plowing in the early
spring, every year at Kha Ha ceremony in Muong Bi, the Party Committee, the
authorities of Tan Lac district organize the plowing ceremony at the beginning
of spring with the expectation that Muong Bi fields are lush and paddy, the
dunes are full of rice, the people are always full, the villages are peaceful
and all things multiply throughout the new year. However, today the ritual is
more innovative.
The number of buffaloes and participants taking part in the
plowing ceremony has been increasing. The plowing competition in early spring
has been organized in the locality... Thereby, the plowing rituals of in the
early spring has become a unique cultural activity, attracting a large number
of people to participate. At Khai Ha ceremony in Muong Bi the year of Rats in
2020, there were 5 plowing teams with of 2 people and 2 buffaloes taking part
in the competition. Buffaloes participating in the ceremony must be big and
strong, regardless of male or female buffaloes. The plow is firm, sharp and
beautiful. The plowmen must be skilled.
In order for the plowing rituals to be done carefully, Phong
Phu commune has selected good buffaloes in the hamlets and chosen each person
to implement the plow. Through many rounds of selection, 10 good buffaloes
meeting all criteria were trained and cared for to perform the rituals in the
morning of the 8th of January of the year of the Rats.
Mr. Bui Trong Que, in Man hamlet, in Phong Phu commune says:
Our family is very happy when our buffalo has been chosen to participate in the
ceremony. I am honored to be the one to make the first plows in the new year.
Before the Lunar New Year of the Rat, we had to fatten the buffalo so that he
becomes fat and healthy to make fast and straight plows. The first straight
plows of the New Year's promise a year of green and paddy fields of rice.
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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