The People's Committee of Lac Thuy district on February 29 held a ceremony to receive a certificate recognising Co Lao Temple as a provincial historical relic. Within the framework of the ceremony, leaders of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Lac Thuy district, delegates, and locals offered incense at Co Lao temple.
Leaders
of the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism hand over the
certificate to Co Lao Temple, Thong Nhat commune, Lac Thuy district.
Co Lao Temple was built in Com village in Muong
Teo in the past, now Ninh Thanh village, Thong Nhat commune.
The temple was a place to worship deities who
protect the villagers in Hau Bong commune, Lac Thuy district, Ha Nam province.
It has contributed to meeting the spiritual needs of people in the ancient
Muong Teo region and neighbouring areas and preserving local cultural identity.
Besides religious elements, the temple also holds historical significance as it
honours and expresses gratitude to predecessors and famous figures who
contributed to the cause of national safeguarding and construction. Five
ordinances conferred by the Nguyen feudal dynasty to the deities are preserved at
the temple.
Every year, on January 6 - 7, a festival is held
at the temple. The festival is an occasion for people to remember origins and
remind young generations to do good deeds for a better life. During the
festival, villagers spend time together playing folk games, which help to
strengthen solidarity.
With its formation, development and historical,
cultural and tourist values, the Co Lao Temple relic was recognised as a
provincial historical relic in 2023.
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 This effort requires not only protecting the cultural identity but also eliminating outdated customs and developing a modern cultural lifestyle, contributing to sustainable values for the Muong community in Hoa Binh province.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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