The Tien pagoda festival in Phu Nghia commune, Lac Thuy district will be held as a provincial-level event from February 12-14, said Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Van Toan.
Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Van Toan and local officials direct preparations for the Tien pagoda festival.
Toan, who is also head of the festival organising committee, said that the Tien (Fairy) pagoda festival is a cultural and folk belief activity that is restored and held annually to preserve, promote the traditional cultural values, and meet the spiritual needs of people. It also contributes to promoting the great solidarity among ethnic groups and boosting tourism of the district and Hoa Binh province.
Regarding the festival organisation this year, the provincial official said that an incense offering ceremony will take place on February 12 morning (the third day of the lunar year) and a ceremony on the afternoon of the same day with rituals asking local gods for permission to open the festival.
On February 13, the festival will officially start with palanquin processions: the procession of the Three Monsignors from Trinh Temple; the Procession of the Holy Mother's palanquin from the Thanh Mau Temple; the Procession of the palanquin of the god worshipped in the communal house from the Trung communal house. They are followed by the official festival opening ceremony with numerous activities such as musical performances, lion/ dragon dancing, stilt walking, bamboo dancing, and the Muong Gong ensemble.
Festive activities include folk games, and volleyball friendly matches among teams from districts of Yen Thuy, Kim Boi, Lac Son, Tan Lac and Lac Thuy.
Visitors can also enjoy a folk art exchange programme featuring ethnic musical instruments, Muong gong art performances, folk singing and demonstrations of the belief of worshipping the Mother Goddess of the Three Palaces by artisans from Trinh temple, Mau temple, and Tien pagoda.
Within the framework of the festival, a spring fair also takes place with over 40 booths that offer agricultural products, handicrafts, One Commune-One Product (OCOP) products, and local food.
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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