Taking a stroll through Ma Bo village

(LĐ online) - Visiting Da Quyn commune (Duc Trong district, Lam Dong province ), I met and was deeply impressed by a woman of the Churu ethnic group. It seems that for her, no love is greater than her love for the beloved Ma Bo - Da Quyn village and its ethnic culture. From that love, she dedicates all her heart and intellect to showing gratitude and contributing with her people to preserving the sacred values ​​passed down from their ancestors.

I was just a traveler wandering through the Churu region, witnessing the lives of the people there, listening to the stories of the woman and her fellow tribesmen, making me miss this beautiful and peaceful land even before I left. She is Ma Thuan, the woman who once again guided me through the experience of Plei Ma Bo in a day filled with emotions…

Ms. Ma Thuan (far right) chatting with the locals.

IN THE MIDDLE OF THE VILLAGE, I MET AN OLD FRIEND AGAIN

Last time, I visited Plei Ma Bo - Da Quyn, met the Churu ethnic people, listened to their legendary stories, and heard the echoes of gongs and drums resounding in the deep forest at night. I was also captivated by the Tamya dances and shared a moment of exhilaration with my brothers and sisters from the highlands over a pot of rice wine. I don't know when it happened, but the Central Highlands has become deeply ingrained in my soul, so visiting Ma Bo feels no strangeness to me. And rightly so, I was born in this land, the land of the epics of Dam San and Xing Nha, the legendary love story of K'Lang and Ha Biang, the land of incredibly unique and fascinating cultural traditions…

Ms. Ma Thuan, a daughter of the Central Highlands, is deeply devoted to the heritage values ​​of her Churu ethnic group. Returning to Ma Bo, I felt a sense of belonging, a connection with her. I immersed myself in the enchanting nature, observing artisans like Ya Tim and Ya Bo engrossed in weaving baskets and playing gongs amidst the majestic mountain landscape, the rustling of the wind, and the sounds of wild animals echoing from the distant slopes. A profound and heartfelt emotion welled up within me. In every conversation, Ma Thuan always offered me gentle smiles, making me feel like a long-lost sibling returning to their sister, like a child returning to their village. I remember a previous encounter where her eyes lit up whenever she spoke about the "Gong Club of Da Quyn Commune"—a testament to love and dedication becoming a reality. My admiration for her, and the gentle smile she gave me, connected the emotions of two people from different ethnic groups…

Ma Thuan is the eldest child in a farming family that was quite poor in the past, when her parents had 10 children. She recounts that from her childhood, her mother's lullabies and her father's teachings about her homeland and her ethnic group deeply ingrained in her, making her love the land and people of this place without even realizing it. Therefore, when standing at the threshold of life, Ma Thuan decided to study Ethnic Minority Cultures at the Ho Chi Minh City University of Culture. She said that studying a field she loved, and gaining a deeper understanding of her own ethnic culture and that of other ethnic groups, was a childhood dream. For her, love is boundless, but only through understanding and interacting with her brothers and sisters from all over the country can she truly appreciate the sacred values ​​of her people and her homeland, the place where she was born and raised. The Churu, one of the ethnic groups witnessing the ups and downs of the Central Highlands, have preserved their unique cultural characteristics for generations. “I love my homeland, I love my Churu people, so I always strive to honor, preserve, and promote those values. I try little by little!” shared Ms. Ma Thuan. True to her word, Ma Thuan, along with young people in Da Quyn and Plei Ma Bo, takes on the responsibility of inheriting and passing on the torch; she has dedicated all her passion to the mission of preserving cultural values.

In Da Quyn commune, Ms. Ma Thuan is known for her role as Vice President of the Women's Union. Although not directly involved in her official position, with the knowledge gained from her university studies combined with a sense of national pride, she frequently plays a key role in cultural preservation; gathering, organizing, and motivating young people to preserve heritage. She confided: "The people who understand the local traditional culture best are the village elders and artisans. Currently, most of them are elderly and frail; if we don't organize them to pass on their knowledge in a timely manner, the erosion of culture will gradually become apparent." Because of this concern, she has dedicated much time and effort to directly contacting and learning from the village elders and artisans; at the same time, using the knowledge she acquired during her university years, Ms. Thuan has implemented many methods that create influence and inspire love and national pride among the people, especially the youth here…

STROLLING THROUGH PLEI…

I will always remember the moments I spent strolling with Ms. Ma Thuan through the Ma Bo village. Under the sun and wind of this mountainous region, we visited each house and talked to each person. Although I didn't understand the local language, I could still feel the warmth and affection that everyone shared for their traditional values ​​and their love for the land where they were born and raised, a love passed down through generations. In this atmosphere where host and guest blended together, I almost forgot that I was just a lucky traveler visiting this beloved place.

Ms. Ma Thuan and basket weaving artisan Ya Tim

“How’s everyone doing lately? I just got back from a business trip, and now I finally have the chance to visit!…” Ma Thuan asked. Responding to her were grandmothers and mothers carrying their children and grandchildren on their backs. They chatted and laughed heartily with her as if she were family. Sharing and love have bound these people of the same ethnic group together. Following Ma Thuan, I unconsciously became a part of the conversation, listening, observing, and subtly… smiling with delight. Is it a poor commune or a poor village? What I perceived was “the richness of precious assets.” The richness of genuine friendship and the valuable treasure of cultural heritage. Leaving the bustling city behind, perhaps the peaceful and captivating atmosphere of Plei Ma Bo has somewhat soothed my weary feelings. In this place, I am left with a sense of serenity and upliftment, surrounded by the beauty of nature and the warmth of human kindness…

“I feel so sorry for them!...” That’s what Ma Thuan said as we walked together to the old village, the home of the most remote and impoverished families in Plei Ma Bo, a place where my phone couldn’t get a signal. Ma Thuan told me many stories about the lives of the people, especially the children. Perhaps modern life hasn’t affected these people much. They cultivate crops, immerse themselves in nature, listen to the sound of the flowing streams, and enjoy the melodious songs of the mountain wind and forest rain. Yes… there are still many hardships! But following their eyes, listening to their stories, I felt that their lives were already very fulfilling. Freely wandering amidst the vast mountain plateau, these children of the mountains always wear bright, happy smiles. Despite many difficulties, they are optimistic and in control of their own lives. The innocent Churu children said and laughed at me, “We love it here! Far from the noisy cars, far from the smoky factories, we have grass, trees, rivers, and streams. When it’s hot, we bathe in the stream; when it’s cold, we light a fire and hug each other to share warmth…” I suddenly thought, the Churu people of Plei Ma Bo are born from the mountains, raised in the forest. As long as their mother tongue is spoken together, as long as the rhythms of folk dances and melodies still resound in the forest nights, they will remain people overflowing with happiness!

Witnessing the lives of the people of the highlands, I suddenly wished that one day I wouldn't have to hold a phone or computer in my hand… I could return to that "Churu region" to learn farming, gathering, herding buffalo up the mountain, weaving baskets, and firing pottery. Perhaps, I would forget my worries, immerse myself in the sounds of the forest, and sing along with the flowing stream. Oh, Ma Bo, even though I haven't left, I already miss it. The land of our ethnic minority brothers and sisters. They smiled at me, they talked to me, they shared with me the most sincere thoughts, the most innocent words. Only when you experience it firsthand can you truly understand its "unforgettable" nature.

“I will return!” I said that to Ms. Ma Thuan. I will come back to visit her, to visit the village again. I will return to this place to meet again the honest, kind people, and to experience the unique culture that is hard to find anywhere else. Even though I am just a traveler from afar, I have fallen deeply in love with this land!

Wait for me, Ma Bo!

Source: http://baolamdong.vn/van-hoa-nghe-thuat/202407/dao-buoc-giua-plei-ma-bo-8500e08/