(HBO) – On the 26th day of the 10th lunar month every year, people in Muong Ram village, Lac Thinh commune in Yen Thuy district put aside daily work to welcome the "De” rice (fermented rice) festival.
Members in the family of Mrs. Bui Thi Khoa in Dinh village, Lac Thinh
commune (Yen Thuy district) are preparing "De” rice to treat guests on the
occasion of the festival.
The festival is originated from a story, which
has been passed through generations in the Muong Ram people community. The
story tells about a general who leaded troops to fight enemy from the north. In
a battle, he lost and wounded. He and his troops accidentally ran to Yen Thuy
and asked a Muong ethnic family to stay there. It was early morning at that
time, the poor family had nothing to eat. They boiled papaya, bitter melons and
bamboo shoots for him. Then they also offered him some "De” rice which the host
prepared to make wine for the Tet festival. The rice in a process of
fermentation with both spicy and sweet tastes became a delicious food for the
soldiers who were very hungry.
After talking with locals on the morning, the
general recognised that the residents usually suffered from hunger due to
drought. The general was touched by the owner’s goodness, he helped the people
pray for rain.
Commemorating the merits of the general, people
in Muong Ram hold the "De” rice festival every year. In the offering tray,
there are always De rice in addition to foods the general ate. Since then,
people think that rain in the festival is a signal for bumper crop in the New
Year.
Today, although the life is better, Lac Thinh
people still respect the "De” rice festival. We had a chance to join communal
officials in the festival.
At 10 am, roads to Dinh village - the source of
the festival was full with local residents. As a rule, Muong Ram people who
work in every corner across the country returned to their home to enjoy nice
time along with their relatives during the festival.
In her new house, Mrs. Bui Thi Khoa was filling
bowls with "De” rice and talking to guests. She and her family members were
very happy because her family welcomed many guests from afar along with her
relatives in this year’s De festival.
"On this day, every household in the village
slaughter pig and cook sticky rice to treat their guests who are not invited
previously,” she said.
To prepare for the festival, from the 20th day
the 10th lunar month, local households prepare to make fermented rice. Rice for
making the "De” rice is the white sticky rice and the violet glutinous rice
planted by their families. The rice will be fermented for five days. On the
26th day of the 10th lunar month, the rice will be put on a tray for worshiping
ancestors.
After offering their ancestors, families make
dishes with available materials raised, grown or collected from forest
themselves to treat guests.
The "De” rice festival becomes a unique culture
identity of Muong Ram people in Hoa Binh. It offers an opportunity to relatives
to gather together, thus tightening solidarity among the community./.
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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