(HBO) – The "Khai ha" Muong Bi Festival is a traditional cultural and religious activity that has been restored and organised regularly in Phong Phu commune in Tan Lac district of Hoa Binh province since 2002.
The "Khai ha" Muong Bi Festival is a traditional cultural.
According to Bui Van Nho, Chairman of the Tan Lac People's
Committee and deputy head of the festival organising committee, said associated
with wet-rice agriculture, the folk festival is also known as a ceremony for
going down to the field or opening the forest door. After the event is
completed, people start working in the fields, praying for a year of favourable
weather and bountiful crops.
The organisation of this festival since 2002 aims to promote
the spirit of national unity and contribute to promoting socio-economic and
tourism development, maintaining political security, social order and safety,
and raising knowledge on preserving ethnic cultural identities.
As 2023 marks 20 years since the restoration of the
"Khai ha" Muong Bi Festival in Tan Lac district, the coming event
will be held at the provincial level. It is scheduled to take place from
January 27 to 29 (from the sixth to eighth day of the first lunar month).
In particular, rituals will be performed at the shrine of
Luy Ai hamlet, Phong Phu commune. Festivities on January 27 and 28 will feature
various activities such as sports competitions, folk games, the Muong Bi night
market, an exhibition of typical products of localities across the province, a
folk singing contest, performances of traditional musical instruments, and a
show of the Muong ethnic group’s costumes.
The opening ceremony will be held at the stadium of Phong
Phu commune and broadcast live on the Hoa Binh Radio and Television Station and
the online Hoa Binh Newspaper. Preparations for the festival are underway./.
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 This effort requires not only protecting the cultural identity but also eliminating outdated customs and developing a modern cultural lifestyle, contributing to sustainable values for the Muong community in Hoa Binh province.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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