(HBO) – The Hoa Binh steering board on the Mo Muong cultural heritage held a meeting on March 24 to hear reports on the progress of building a dossier for the ritual to be included in the UNESCO’s List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding. Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee and head of the steering board Nguyen Van Toan chaired the function.
Nguyen Van Toan, Vice Chairman of the
provincial People’s Committee and head of the steering board, concludes the
meeting.
The dossier building project is set to run
between 2021 and 2025 in Hoa Binh with the participation of six other
localities – Hanoi, Son La, Ninh Binh, Thanh Hoa, Phu Tho, and Dak Lak. Divided
into four phase, it is estimated to cost more than 15 billion VND (648,672
USD).
The dossier is expected to be submitted to
the Prime Minister asking for permission for its submission to the UNESCO in
2023 in hope of being recognised in 2025. The accreditation will help increase
the position of the cultural heritage in the national and global levels.
To date, the preparation work has been
underway, with a draft plan and cost estimates done, a roadmap for implementing
the project reported to the provincial Party Committee’s standing board, and
documents seeking feedback of the six localities for their participation sent.
Concluding the meeting, Toan stressed the
project consists of many tasks involving a large number of agencies thus needing
a detailed plan that outlines specific tasks, responsibilities, and deadlines.
The conduction of some work items ought to
be accelerated within 2021 to set the foundation for upcoming tasks, he added.
The building of the project must seek
comments from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and localities
involved, the official noted./.
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 This effort requires not only protecting the cultural identity but also eliminating outdated customs and developing a modern cultural lifestyle, contributing to sustainable values for the Muong community in Hoa Binh province.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.
.jpg)
