From March 10th – 11th, the People's Committee of Cao Phong town (Cao Phong) coordinated with the Relics Management Board to organize the traditional festival of Thuong Bong Lai Temple in 2024.
The
people were performing the water procession ceremony at Thuong Bong Lai Temple.
Located
at the foot of Rong Head Mountain, in Area 3, Cao Phong town, the temple
worships the Second Thuong Nga Fairy Lady (Co Doi Thuong Ngan) and the saints
of the four realms in the Mother Goddess religion. The temple dates back to the
2nd year of King Thanh Thai's prosperity (Canh Dan year 1890). Through the wars
and ups and downs of the history, the temple was degraded and lost. In 2013,
the temple was rebuilt with flowers and beauty, and the entire architecture was
completed. Every February 2nd of the lunar calendar, the temple
festival opens to admire, worship and pay tribute to Co Doi Thuong Ngan, the
temple's keeper.
Thuong
Bong Lai Temple Festival includes a ceremony and a festival. The ceremony takes
place with a full sequence of rituals, including the water procession ceremony
with the participation of many people moving from Thuong Bong Lai Temple to
Dong Son Temple. The festival is vibrant with the cultural activities, sports,
and folk games (sack jumping, goat catching, pot smashing...).
The
festival attracts a large number of people and tourists from all over to offer
incense, admire, express their respect and filial piety towards their
ancestors, and pray for blessings for the country - people's peace, prosperity,
protecting a peaceful life, moving towards truth - goodness - beauty.
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 This effort requires not only protecting the cultural identity but also eliminating outdated customs and developing a modern cultural lifestyle, contributing to sustainable values for the Muong community in Hoa Binh province.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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