Need open cultural spaces…

08:39, 11/26/2023

Mr. Thai Hong Ha, Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said that November is the time when the Dak Lak culture and tourism sector wants to launch a number of new plans, contributing to changing valuable perspectives on Central Highlands culture in the area.

The highlight of this idea is the Dak Lak Ethnic Culture Festival organized by the locality in the middle of the month, so that through each specific event, the province will re-evaluate the current status of models, cultural and artistic movements, tourism, mass sports and cultural life in the community.

Spreading cultural values

The Dak Lak Ethnic Culture Festival includes three main groups of activities: performing and displaying typical cultural products and traditional characteristics of ethnic groups; introducing recognized Central Highlands heritage values that are being profiled; and connecting and promoting local tourism programs and products.

The focus of this festival is the unique expression, traditional characteristics of ethnic cultures, the peak of which is the promotion of cultural heritage. According to Mr. Thai Hong Ha, the industry's approach to these values is to respect and be equal, fair between different cultural values, without comparison or ranking. Each ethnic group will have its typical features, unique achievements, with specific images and activities to perform and introduce widely.

There will be cultural values that have been recognized for a long time, but from this organizational perspective, the cultural sector tries to present new discoveries, new research and assessment results to highlight them more. For example, the restoration of the Ede wedding ceremony, the introduction of the preparation of ethnic dishes and drinks, the organization emphasizes the current situation in the community and the ability to connect, "tourismize" activities to promote better.

Performing the groom-welcoming ritual of the Ede people in Tong Ju village (Ea Kao commune, Buon Ma Thuot city) at the Dak Lak province's Ethnic Culture Festival in 2023. Photo: The Hung

Mr. Ha emphasized that cultural heritages gather inherent values, so it is very necessary to successfully express the values and spread the images of cultural heritages in today's life. Therefore, the festival space tries to expand, go to the villages, focus on daily activities, real events in spiritual traditions, and the rhythms of ethnic life, not simply perform on stages or in certain event areas.

Open a new journey?

From the perspective of this festival, cultural managers want to be able to expand their understanding and build, properly structure the traditional culture of the Central Highlands in a specific locality, Dak Lak. With the foundation of converging 49 ethnic groups, the province needs to create a system of relationships, management, connection and promotion of cultural values, preservation of cultural achievements... in a scientific and effective manner.

This is not a simple task that can be done through a few documents or guidelines, but according to cultural researchers, there must be a sustainable roadmap and a gathering of attitudes, perspectives, and reasonable and accurate solutions. For example, the story of restoring and promoting the culture of "Central Highlands Elephants", a sensitive topic for the social community for a long time, the locality needs to clearly show its viewpoint and plan, in order to both preserve the beauty of traditional life between the Central Highlands people and elephants, and respect new modern social values. Or with the gong heritage, up to now, Dak Lak has had research results, collected, gathered, organized care, and protected artisans and communities related to this heritage, all must be implemented, informed coherently, consistently, and fully.

Furthermore, in the coming time, Dak Lak province will have new programs and milestones, such as the 120th anniversary of the province's founding, which will require developing an organization plan, connecting social resources, summarizing research activities, promoting and communicating, all of which really need very specific outlines and solutions. The goal of initiating changes in investment, management perspectives, and promoting culture of the local cultural sector, therefore, must be clearer and more transparent.

From those responsible perspectives, the Dak Lak cultural and tourism management sector has more clearly identified the tasks and plans that need to be discussed and done in the coming time. After the period of being negatively affected by the pandemic, from the context of the general economic crisis, and up to now, other negative developments in society, it is clear that the Central Highlands cultural sector needs to have a realistic view and restructure its activities to match its meaning and stature. The time of November 2023 is therefore opening up different conditions and opportunities, to move towards the peak of Tet activities, welcoming the new year 2024, facing future development challenges, the socio-cultural and tourism activities of Dak Lak and the Central Highlands must have the momentum to change, grow and restructure better.

The obvious manifestation of these cultural activities is how the community lifestyle and lifestyle of the people will be strengthened, spreading traditional and ethical values. Following that, is the opportunity to stir up and stimulate investment in production, successfully organize services, and redevelop local tourism with clearer and better quality identities.

Thuy Bat Nhi

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