The unique features of the Dinh Bang festival.

Taking place over two days, February 23rd and 24th (the 7th and 8th days of the first lunar month), the Bang Temple Festival (Ngoc Son commune) attracted thousands of locals and tourists from all over to offer incense. The harmonious combination of solemn ceremonies and lively festivities created a beautiful impression, contributing to the honoring of the local culture, history, and spirit.

A spectacular cultural program to celebrate the Dinh Bang Festival.

Unique rituals

According to folk legends and stories told by elders, Bang Temple worships the mountain god of Ba Vi, Tan Vien, the Queen Mother, King A, King Ut, King Cun, King Hai, Kem, and Cai. The festival features many unique rituals that clearly demonstrate the relationship of the ancient Muong people with nature. Among them, "Boc Loi" is the most unique ritual of the festival, aimed at negotiating with the lightning god to prevent lightning strikes where people and livestock live, thus avoiding harm to the people's lives.

People come to offer incense at Bang Temple.

According to folklore researcher and distinguished artisan Bui Huy Vong (Lac Son commune), the purpose of organizing the festival is to wish for a peaceful life with nature and to avoid disasters caused by natural calamities. The "Boc Loi" ritual reflects folk beliefs and pure faith in the deities worshipped in the temple, believing they can help people fulfill their dreams and protect them from natural disasters and wild animals.

People receive sugarcane as a blessing for good luck.

In Bang village, simultaneously with the "Boc Loi" ritual, the "Bhua Duc" and "Va Dat, Manh Long Mach" rituals take place. On this day, the villagers prepare a harrow made from the wood of the Long Ong tree (a type of wood specifically used for making harrows), along with a yoke, ropes, and a duck placed in a cage.

The chief priest, carrying the plow, walks and chants prayers, holding a mulberry branch whip to strike the ducks, hitting them to the sides. The person leading the plow must be from an older family (Dinh, Quach, etc.) or an elderly person, born in the year of the Dragon or Tiger, carrying a rope in one hand and a basket of ducks in the other, walking throughout the village. The ritual is meant to purify and expel rubbish and disease from the land; to pray for peace and prosperity for the land in the Muong community.

The vibrant colors of the Muong gongs express the hospitality of the local people in welcoming visitors to the festival.

The Ngoc Son highlands are also known as the Muong Khu region. During the rainy season, this area often suffers from natural disasters, storms, floods, lightning strikes, and heavy rains causing landslides. Ancient people believed that the earth's energy lines had been broken, and therefore needed to be reconnected. This work is carried out during the Dinh Bang festival with the ritual of "Mending the Earth, Mending the Dragon Vein." In the eroded area, after praying to the spirits, Mr. Tlượng (the person in charge of the ritual) performs the ceremony of mending the earth and repairing the dragon vein. The tools used for mending the earth include mulberry branches symbolizing the earth's bones and sap from the Vang tree symbolizing the earth's blood. After the ceremony, these items are buried in the eroded area, signifying that the land has been mended.

Within the framework of the Dinh Bang festival, there are also unique rituals such as: the procession of vegetarian palanquins (earth and village vegetarian), the purification ritual, and the ritual of seeking peace and well-being...

The festival part was lively.

At the Dinh Bang festival, visitors and locals not only witness and experience unique and solemn rituals but also immerse themselves in the vibrant and joyful atmosphere of the festival, fostering a sense of community.

Tourists and locals alike participate in lively folk games.

The most vibrant activities include cultural and artistic performances, Muong gong and drum performances, gong competitions between Muong communities in the region, and traditional music ensembles; Muong folk song singing competitions, performances of the epic poems "Nang Nga - Hai Moi" or "Ho Lieu - Ut Lot"; folk games such as "danh mang," "de kha" (Muong ethnic wrestling), spinning tops, crossbow shooting, volleyball, etc. In addition, tourists and locals have the opportunity to visit the space showcasing highland culinary and cultural products .

Traditional Muong folk singing competition.

The athletes test their crossbow shooting skills.

The women were engrossed in playing the board game.

At noon, Dinh Bang held a communal meal. At the table, the oldest people sat at the head, enjoying the meal together in a spirit of unity and camaraderie. The rest of the meals were set up on the grass or around the temple, and everyone attending the festival, regardless of whether they were from the village or outside the district, joined in the joyful feasting.

When the Dinh Bang festival concludes, the festival flags are lowered, and Bang village holds a farewell ceremony with rice wine. The festival is over, but many people still linger, reluctant to leave. As they depart, everyone feels relieved, their minds freed from worries, filled with joy and hope for a prosperous and peaceful new year.

Bui Minh

Source: https://baophutho.vn/dac-sac-le-hoi-dinh-bang-248396.htm