Within the framework of the Tien Pagoda Festival in Lac Thuy district in 2024, after the opening ceremony, a folk-art exchange program took place including Performing the traditional musical instruments, Muong gong art, folk dancing and singing, Chau Van singing... of the clubs preserving Muong ethnic cultural identity of Ba Hang Doi town, Hung Thi, Phu Thanh, Phu Nghia communes, together with the Meritorious Artisans Nguyen Manh Tuan, Tran Manh Hung... at the stage of Tien pagoda.
Demonstrating
the worship of Tam Phu Mother Goddess at Tien Pagoda Opening Ceremony in 2024.
In
particular, the performance of the traditional Hau Dong ritual recreated
Vietnamese Tam Phu belief in a performative nature, recreating the beauty and
highlight of Dam Da Tien Mau Pagoda, which is inseparable from the form of
belief for the worship the Mother Goddess.
This
type of performance plays a central role in Mother Goddess worship, clearly
expressing the traditions and ethics of the nation. The Vietnamese belief in
worshiping the Tam Phu Mother Goddess has been recognized as an intangible
heritage of humanity. This is a beauty in the folk beliefs, which Vietnamese
people have passed down for many years.
In
particular, the belief for Mother Goddess worship in Hoa Binh has interference
with the cultural beliefs of Viet Muong people. With the complex of Dam Da Tien
Mau Pagoda, there is the relic of Au Co Mother, which can lead to a Mother
Goddess in the Tam Tu Phu and towards the peace and kindness for the community.
Dam Da Tien Mau Pagoda is a complex of religious preservation, one of the major
relics of Hoa Binh province that has preserved the customs and practices of
Muong ethnic people. The belief in worshiping Tam Phu Mother Goddesses has
penetrated deeply into the life of the community, that is praying for the peace
in the country and people, good rain and wind.
Tien
Pagoda Festival in Lac Thuy district in 2024 has been upgraded to a provincial
scale, contributing to enhancing the value of this belief as the beauty of
humanity's intangible heritage. Especially the festival helps conserve and
preserve the culture of the ancient and present Muong people. At the same time,
it has been contributing to the successful implementation of the Project on
Preserving and promoting the cultural values of Muong ethnic group and "Hoa
Binh Culture” for the period of 2023 - 2030.
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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