Gau Tao Festival of Mong ethnic people in Mai Chau district in 2023

1/9/2023 - 6:10:09 PM

(HBO) - On December 31, at the stadium of Pa Co commune, the People's Committee of Pa Co commune, Hang Kia (Mai Chau) held the opening ceremony of Gau Tao Festival of the Mong ethnic people to celebrate the Party and the Lunar New Year in 2023.

Neu tree in the Gau Tao Festival bears the symbol of the sacred tree connecting the heaven and the earth.

Gau Tao Festival of the Mong ethnic people is a traditional folk festival, a cultural and religious feature that has existed for a long time and it has been restored since 2017. The festival is divided into two parts, including the ceremony part and the festival part. After the opening part of the festival, a special ceremony in the Gau Tao Festival is the ceremony of setting up Neu tree. Neu tree in Gau Tao Festival bears the symbol of a sacred tree connecting the heaven and the cearth. The tree is planted on a wide, flat land, the top of the tree is always facing the East - the direction of birth with the desire to have children, and it is also the direction of the sun with the desire for a bountiful harvest. When Neu tree have been set up, the shaman perform a ceremony right under the tree so that the heaven and the earth, the gods bless the village with peace and happiness, a good harvest in the new year, the favorable weather and they wish everyone a peaceful and happy lìfe, and healthier and healthier with good livestock and crops.

Arriving at Gau Tao Festival this year, in addition to enjoying a special art program imbued with the cultural identity of Mong ethnic peopel, visitors can also visit food stalls, agricultural products, and typical products of Mong ethnic people. They can also visit the Culinary Competition, the contest of pounding Banh cakes, Pao throwing and the Costume Contest, the beauty contest. This year, walking on stilts also takes place at Gau Tao Festival.

This is an opportunity to preserve and promote the national cultural identity, strengthening the introduction of the history, culture and tourism potential of the two communes, Hang Kia - Pa Co in Mai Chau district to domestic and foreign tourists. At the same time, it helps build the annual traditional activities, gradually building the habit of regularly organizing folk games associated with physical and sports training, improving health, creating a joyful and exciting atmosphere for the people in 2 communes and welcoming Quy Mao spring in 2023. Gau Tao festival takes place from December 31, 2022 to the end of January 1, 2023.

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.