(HBO) - Through many ups and downs of history, Khai ha (going down to the field) festival has been preserved by the Muong ethnic group in Hoa Binh province, becoming their indispensable cultural and religious activity every spring. joining the festival, locals wish for a peaceful and prosperous life.
Khai ha festival was promoted at a special art programme in 2022 when the province received certificates recognising bamboo calendar and the festival as national intangible heritage.
Talking about the cultural value of the Khai ha festival, Luu Huy Linh, Deputy Director of the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said that the heritage reflects, preserves and disseminates the cultural values of the Muong ethnic group, and demonstrates admiration and veneration of the god who set up the Muong land. The festival also aims to strengthening community cohesion, and is a spiritual and cultural activity reminding younger generations of the tradition of the ethnic group.
Today, Khai ha is one of the most pervasive festivals that have a great influence on the spiritual life of the Muong ethnic group. In 2022, with many efforts of the province, this festival was recognised as national intangible cultural heritage.
The festival, also dubbed as the ploughing or forest opening festival, has connection with the wet rice cultivation which carries a sign of civilisation of the ancient Vietnamese. Khai ha in each Muong region takes place at different times and places./.
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 This effort requires not only protecting the cultural identity but also eliminating outdated customs and developing a modern cultural lifestyle, contributing to sustainable values for the Muong community in Hoa Binh province.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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