(HBO) – With their love for the homeland and pride in the nation's traditional values, since early 2022, two Muong ethnic students - Sam Bich Ngoc and Tran Hai Ha who are studying in the ethnic boarding high school of Hoa Binh province, have implemented a study on a fishing festival of the Muong people in the province.
Sam Bich Ngoc and Tran Hai Ha (C) are
inquiring information from leaders of the People's Committee of Lo Son commune
(Tan Lac district) about the fishing festival of the Muong people in Hoa Binh.
Not only learning through books, newspapers and historical documents, the
students have also made field trips to Tan Lac and Lac Son districts and met
folklore researchers there.
The more they learned, the more interesting and meaningful issues they found,
making both determined to carry out the scientific study on the unique
festival.
The fishing festival of the Muong people ịn Hoa Binh originated from the Lang
dynasty. Its aims to catch the biggest, most delicious and beautiful fish, and
offer them to the gods to pray for good weather and bountiful crops.
Later, the festival not only became a cultural identity of the local people,
but was also considered an effective solution to help protect aquatic resources
in rivers and streams, demonstrating the sense of exploitation and
sustainabledevelopment of aquatic resources, and the spirit of living in
harmony with nature of the Muong people in Hoa Binh.
"We found that this festival bears the philosophy of life, but
unfortunately it is gradually being forgotten. Less and less people know about
this festival, even those from the Muong Bi and Muong Vang regions, which are
the two "cradles" of the festival”, Ha said.
The students said they have conducted a questionnaire survey on the
preservation of the festival in Tan Lac and Lac Son districts.
The survey shows that most of respondents are not fully aware of the purpose
and significance of the festival, they said, adding that the festival is not
yet held every year as a traditional festival of the locality.
Through their study "Some solutions to preserve the fishing festival of
the Muong Bi and Muong Vang people in Hoa Binh province", the students
hope to contribute to raising public awareness of the significance of the
festival and the importance of preserving and promoting it.
Nguyen Thi Thanh Mai, the teacher that directly guides Ngoc and Ha to implement
the study, said the students are aware of the rights and obligations of
citizens towards implementing cultural policies through introducing and
preserving local cultural identities.
"I am very happy to see that they have a real love and passion for the
traditional culture of the country”, she said, adding that the students came up
with suitable solutions to contribute to preserving the festival.
Turning their love into action, Ngoc and Ha set up a fanpage to introduce the
festival and call for community efforts to preserve the festival. The page
features articles and studies on the festival and updates useful information on
other festivals in Hoa Binh./.
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)
