Cultural spaces are unique.

Convergence of ethnic cultural space

The 2024 Folk Cultural Performance Contest of Ethnic Groups, taking place from August 1-4, is a place to gather and spread the cultural identity of ethnic groups; it is also an opportunity for ethnic groups to exchange, thereby contributing to preserving and promoting the cultural identity of Vietnam.

During these days, within the framework of the Festival at the Quang Ngai Provincial Cultural House, the following programs took place: folk song, folk dance and national costume performances; traditional ritual performances; culinary competitions.

The performances brought unique colors and patterns from 24 participating units. The units brought to the contest many unique performances imbued with the identity of local ethnic minorities. Many performances re-enacted the religious activities of ethnic minorities and local communities in an original way.

Participating in the traditional ritual performance were 12 groups from provinces and cities including: Quang Ngai, An Giang, Bac Giang, Bac Ninh, Binh Phuoc, Dak Lak, Dien Bien, Gia Lai, Hai Duong, Hoa Binh, Ho Chi Minh City, Khanh Hoa. Many traditional rituals and customs were recreated by artisans, artists, and actors representing many ethnic groups in the localities.

The Quang Ngai delegation impressed with the reenactment of an excerpt from the Hoang Sa soldier's memorial ceremony. This is a ritual maintained by Ly Son residents to this day to demonstrate the tradition of patriotism and affirm Vietnam's sovereignty over the sea and islands of Hoang Sa and Truong Sa. Artisan Tran Cong Trong from Ly Son district participated in the ritual as a shaman and shared that the fishing boat model, the sacrificial offerings, the effigies and the Hoang Sa captain's tablets, along with the solemn sound of the conch shells, created a unique and characteristic festival of the outpost island. The Hoang Sa soldier's memorial ceremony is still maintained by Ly Son residents to this day to demonstrate the tradition of patriotism and affirm Vietnam's sovereignty over the sea and islands of Hoang Sa and Truong Sa.

The audience who came to watch the ethnic ritual performance had the opportunity to experience the colorful rituals and unique cultural customs of the localities. Bac Giang artisans recreated the custom of celebrating birthdays for the elderly (in Nung language, “Tay Khoan”).

Meritorious Artist Chu Thi Hong Van shared that birthday celebrations are often held for grandparents and those with many children and grandchildren. According to custom, birthdays are the days when children show their gratitude to their grandparents, parents, and grandparents. This traditional custom represents the moral of “When drinking water, remember its source”. This is also a unique feature in the culture of the Nung ethnic group in Bac Giang.

Coming to the contest with the aim of spreading the love of Quan Ho folk songs, the Bac Ninh troupe performed the smooth and soulful melodies of the Lien Anh and Lien Chi singers. The love of Quan Ho people permeated each folk song and spread in the hearts of every Bac Ninh child.

Ms. Dao Thuy Mien - Deputy Head of Bac Ninh delegation said that 20 artists actively practiced and performed at the contest to affirm that Bac Ninh Quan Ho folk songs are being preserved and strongly developed to be worthy of being a representative intangible cultural heritage of humanity recognized by UNESCO.

The traditional ritual performance competition also includes reenactments of unique rituals such as: Traditional wedding ceremony of the Cham Islam people in An Giang province; New rice eating ceremony of the Ede people in Dak Lak province; Engagement ceremony of the Thai people in Dien Bien province; Communal house worship ceremony of the Gia Rai and Bahnar people in Gia Lai province; New rice festival of the Stieng people in Binh Phuoc province... The rituals are all imbued with spirituality, reflecting the rich spiritual life and high aesthetics with dances and folk songs that have been passed down for many generations of the ethnic groups.

People's Artist Pham Thi Tang from Lo village, Cao Ngoc commune, Ngoc Lac district (Thanh Hoa) came to the contest to join other artists in recreating the Poon Poong Festival (Flower Festival). Artist Tang has devoted much effort to preserving and promoting this festival. Thanks to that, the traditional cultural values ​​of the Muong ethnic group in Thanh Hoa are always preserved and promoted.

The Poong Poong Festival of the Muong people is held annually on the full moon days of January, March and July with the wish for a bountiful harvest and a prosperous and happy life. The festival is both a ritual to pray for blessings and peace and a place for men and women to meet.

Although she is 80 years old, Ms. Tang still remembers all the details of the Poong Poong art form with 48 unique games and performances and has become the master of ceremonies of the flower playing festival in Cao Ngoc commune. People's artist Pham Thi Tang shared, I just hope to have good health to teach all these performances to my children and grandchildren, so that Poong Poong will live forever with the generations of Muong people.

Spread the love of heritage

Coming to the contest, the Lam Dong delegation performed an excerpt of the new rice festival. For the K'ho S're people in Lam Dong province, the new rice festival is usually held after the harvest season, around December to January of the following year, praying for the rice god to bless everyone and every family with food and clothing, and to become increasingly prosperous and well-off. Village elder K The shared that to this day, the festival is still preserved, with the meaning of connecting the community. We are always proud of our ethnic cultural traditions and hope that through the contest, the heritage values ​​that we preserve will be loved and respected by our ethnic brothers.

Mr. Dieu Thieng, from Binh Phuoc, shared: Coming to this year's contest, the delegation brought the unique characteristics of the Stieng people of Binh Phuoc province to blend into the diverse picture of Vietnamese ethnic groups.

“We are very happy to contribute to the cultural and artistic activities of the contest. The happiest thing is that when participating in the contest, we can feel more clearly the difference in the culture of our people compared to other ethnic communities. Coming to the contest, I feel like I am here, to feel more clearly myself, to see the uniqueness of my people, of other ethnic communities, to see the diversity and rich cultural identity of our people,” said Mr. Dieu Thieng.

Each festival and competition of ethnic groups and localities has created a diverse cultural space, rich in identity and left many beautiful impressions in the hearts of the audience.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Hong (Quang Ngai City) said: When I heard about this contest, I came and really enjoyed watching the performance of ethnic rituals. It gave me more opportunities to experience and understand more about the colors of the rituals of Vietnamese ethnic groups. I was very impressed with the reenactment of the twinning ceremony of the Co Tu people in Quang Nam province, which is very meaningful in guiding each person to a lifestyle of respect, solidarity and love for each other, very humane and highly educational. Besides, I was really moved by the performance of the Hoang Sa soldier's feasting ceremony by the Quang Ngai delegation. Through that, I saw the hardships and sacrifices of generations of Vietnamese people who crossed the ocean to protect the sea and islands of the Fatherland. From there, I love my country and homeland even more"./.