Life in a new land
In early June, the Lồng Tồng festival was held in Tân Lợi commune, Đồng Phú district, in a vibrant atmosphere rich in ethnic identity. The event attracted thousands of locals and tourists, creating a lively and meaningful cultural celebration. This was the third consecutive year the festival was organized at the district level, affirming the enduring vitality and increasingly widespread influence of this traditional cultural activity on the community, especially the Tày and Nùng ethnic groups who migrated from northern provinces to settle in Bình Phước .
The Lồng Tồng Festival, meaning "going down to the fields" in the Tay and Nung languages, is a traditional ritual associated with the worship of the God of Agriculture, the deity who governs the harvest. The festival expresses the aspiration for a year of favorable weather, a bountiful harvest, a prosperous life, and a peaceful and happy family. In the northern mountainous provinces, the festival is usually held in early spring, from the 1st to the 15th day of the first lunar month. Beyond its profound spiritual significance, the festival is also an opportunity for people to temporarily set aside their farming work, gather together, socialize, strengthen community bonds, and foster a sense of community.
“The Lồng Tồng Festival evokes many familiar memories of my mountainous homeland in Northern Vietnam. Being immersed in the traditional cultural atmosphere with the sounds of the đàn tính (a type of stringed instrument), the then folk songs, ethnic dishes, and traditional games like the grass-grazing game, throwing the ball, and playing the cù (a spinning top)... I was truly moved and proud. I hope the festival continues to be maintained so that today's young generation has the opportunity to understand, appreciate, and preserve the precious cultural values of our people.” Ms. DAM THI YEN, Dong Tien commune, Dong Phu district |
With a variety of activities such as singing sli and then songs in ethnic languages praising the Party, President Ho Chi Minh, the homeland, and the country, as well as folk games like throwing the ball, bamboo dancing, grass-cutting, stilt football, and spinning tops, the festival brought a cultural space rich in the identity of the Tay and Nung ethnic groups to the heart of the Southeast region. In particular, this year's festival included some new activities such as stilt football and grass-cutting for women, attracting many participants.
Mr. Le Xuan Nghi, Director of the Dong Phu District Cultural and Sports Center and Head of the festival organizing committee, said: “Compared to previous years, the number of people participating in the festival has doubled this year, demonstrating the community's interest and solidarity in preserving the heritage. The innovations in some of the competitions have also created a vibrant atmosphere, attracting many young people.”
More than just a gathering of elders knowledgeable about customs, the festival is also a place where young people can learn, practice, and continue the cultural values of the nation. Ms. Long Thi Thao from Tan Hoa commune expressed: “As a young generation with many things to learn, I hope the festival will be held annually so that we can learn more about the beautiful cultural values of our people. I myself will try to learn, preserve, and promote the beautiful cultural traditions left by our ancestors.”
Besides cultural exchange activities, arts, and sports, the festival also showcases many distinctive aspects of the lives of the Tay and Nung ethnic groups. From cuisine such as duck pho, honey-glazed roasted pork, rice cakes, mugwort cakes, and steamed rice cakes... to traditional costumes and household items like fishing nets and baskets, everything is vividly displayed at the festival, bearing the strong imprint of ethnic culture.
Preserving the national spirit
Dong Phu District currently has 17 ethnic groups living together, with ethnic minorities accounting for 21.17%. The Tay and Nung people mainly live in the communes of Tan Loi, Tan Hoa, Tan Hung, Thuan Phu, Dong Tien, etc., having migrated from Cao Bang, Lang Son, and Bac Kan provinces to settle there. Throughout their lives, many traditional customs and practices have been preserved and passed down through generations, enriching the spiritual life of the ethnic communities in the area.
In the context of integration and modernization, many traditional customs and festivals are at risk of disappearing. Therefore, organizing and maintaining the Lồng Tồng festival is not just a simple cultural activity, but also a way of "keeping the flame alive" and passing on the soul of the nation. Ms. Hoang Thi Oanh from Dong Bia hamlet, Tan Loi commune, confided: "I am old now, and I only hope that my children and grandchildren will continue to maintain the beautiful traditions of our people, developing and spreading them even wider."
Over the years, the Party and the State have implemented many policies to support the cultural development of ethnic minority communities, especially the preservation of unique festivals and customs. The Lồng Tồng festival in Đồng Phú is a testament to the connection between sound policies from higher levels and the efforts of the community itself in preserving its culture.
Mr. Nghi expressed: "Organizing the Lồng Tồng festival for three consecutive years is vivid evidence of the attention given by Party committees and authorities at all levels to preserving and promoting the value of ethnic culture in the area. In the future, with the implementation of a two-tiered local government system, there will be changes, and I sincerely hope that this meaningful activity will continue to be maintained and spread, contributing to the preservation of ethnic cultural identity."
Amidst the flow of modern history, when many traditional values are forgotten, festivals like Lồng Tồng become even more precious. They are like a smoldering fire in people's hearts, nurturing and preserving the national spirit for today and tomorrow.
Source: https://baobinhphuoc.com.vn/news/543/173870/dac-sac-le-hoi-long-tong
Comment (0)