Thai people’s Keeng Loong dance preserved in Mai Chau

12/26/2021 - 12:14:38 PM

(HBO) – Keeng Loong dance is an integral part of the life of Thai people in the northern mountainous district of Mai Chau, which is performed in festivals like new rice festival, Xen ban, Cha chieng and Lunar New Year festival.

Keeng Loong dance – a special cultural identity of the Thai group in Mai Chau district.

"Loong” is a pestle made from good timber to create big sounds. Large, straight trees are selected and cut into pieces whose sizes are decided by artisans. Keeng Loong has its origin in the daily life of Thai people in Mai Chau. For Thai women, rice pounding is their daily job, during which they often create pleasant sounds with the pestles that would help to dispel sadness and worries. Over time, it has gradually become an art performed during festivals, including new rice festival and wedding. Combined with gongs, drums and bamboo sticks, it forms a joyful atmosphere. The number of Keeng Long players depends on Loong’s size and the festival context.

Nowadays, local families no longer use Loong to pound rice, but Loong has always been a close friend in their spiritual life. Thai people dance Keeng Long when they are sad, and also when they are happy like when moving to a new house or in the great national unity festival. Its sounds can lure people to join festivals no matter what they are doing and wherever they are.

Currently, in all Thai villages in Mai Chau district, Keeng Loong is used to welcome tourists, becoming a traditional cultural identity. Therefore, the preservation and promotion of the dance's intangible cultural value is very necessary, contributing to meeting cultural needs of people.

The provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism has recently coordinated with the Bureau of Culture and Sports of Mai Chau district to organise a symposium on Keeng Loong.

The workshop brought together artisans from Tong Dau, Na Phon, Mai Chau town and Chieng Chau commune. They highlighted the cultural, scientific, historical and artistic values of Keeng Loong and contributed ideas to complete a dossier to be submitted to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, seeking recognition of Keeng Long as national intangible cultural heritage. They also proposed orientations and solutions to preserve and promote values of Keeng Loong.

3.6 Billion VND Allocated to Preserve Traditional Cultural Values of Ethnic Minorities in Lạc Sơn District

As part of Project 6 under the national target program for socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas in 2024, Lạc Sơn District, Hoa Binh province focuses on diverse and practical activities to promote the project's goal: "Preserving and promoting the beautiful traditional cultural values of ethnic groups in conjunction with tourism development."

Mobilizing the power to preserve and promote the cultural heritage values

After 3 years of implementing Resolution No. 04-NQ/TU, dated October 11, 2021 of the Provincial Party Standing Committee on preserving and promoting the cultural heritage values of Hoa Binh province's ethnic groups in the period of 2021 – 2025 with the orientation to 2030 (NQ04), it has mobilized the participation of the entire political system, the people from all walks of life and there have been positive changes. So far, out of the 10 targets of NQ04, 3 targets have been met and exceeded the plan set for 2025. Typically, 70% of the intangible cultural heritage (ICH) of ethnic groups in the province is on the list of the national ICH items and they have been protected and restored, exceeding 20% of the proposed Resolution.