On October 4, at the Provincial High School for Ethnic Minorities, the Department of Education and Training held the opening ceremony for the 2024 Cultural and Sports Festival for Ethnic Boarding and Semi-boarding Schools in Hoa Binh Province.
The artistic performance
section at the Cultural and Sports Festival for Ethnic Boarding and
Semi-Boarding Schools in Hoa Binh Province in 2024.
The festival, held from
October 4 to 6, brought together over 850 students from 24 schools, including
11 ethnic boarding secondary and high schools, 11 semi-boarding schools, 1
ethnic boarding secondary school, and 1 ethnic boarding high school.
During the event, the
students competed in two main categories: cultural performances and sports. The
cultural competition featured singing, dancing, gong performances, and
traditional musical instrument displays with the themes focusing on love for
the homeland, and the country, praising the Party, Uncle Ho, and the schools.
The sports competition included three events: stick pushing, tug of war, and
volleyball.
The festival aimed to
enhance the political and ideological education, morality, lifestyle,
aesthetics, and physical health among students of ethnic boarding and
semi-boarding schools in the province. It also fostered a joyful atmosphere,
promoted exchanges and experience-sharing among the schools, and selected
outstanding performances and athletes to represent the province in the national
competition organized by the Ministry of Education and Training.
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 This effort requires not only protecting the cultural identity but also eliminating outdated customs and developing a modern cultural lifestyle, contributing to sustainable values for the Muong community in Hoa Binh province.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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