Reviving the value of Khenh communal house relic

(HBĐT) - Located at the foot of Khu Khenh mountain, Khenh communal house, Van Son commune (Lac Son) has a long history of formation and development. Legend has it that, in the past, when the Ngo invaders came to invade the Muong land, Mr. Chuong Tin and Mrs. Trieu An used Khu Khenh mountain as a base to recruit soldiers, train soldiers, and lead troops to defeat the Ngo invaders, killing the enemy general. The two beheaded the enemy general and brought him back to Khu Khenh to worship heaven and earth. Later, they passed away in Khu Khenh. The Muong people remembered their merits and built a communal house to burn incense to worship them. The communal house also worships the gods who opened up the land, developed rice fields and established Muong Khenh.

The art cores of Muong Khenh region opened the festival, contributing to creating a bustling atmosphere for the Khenh Communal House Festival in 2023.

With historical and cultural values, associated with the religious festival of the Muong ethnic group, Khenh communal house was ranked as a provincial relic since 2020. Previously, after a period of war and difficult economic conditions, the ancient communal house no longer existed, the Khenh communal house festival was not held and was at risk of fading away. With socialized funding and part of the State's support, Khenh communal house was completed and restored from 2017 to 2019 with a 3-room design, an area of about 80 m2. The restoration of the communal house and the Khenh communal house festival has encouraged and motivated local authorities and people to participate in preserving and promoting tangible and intangible cultural identity, protecting the value of relics and scenic spots in the area.

According to Mr. Bui Van Nen, Vice Chairman of the Commune People's Committee, since the communal house was renovated, the cultural and religious needs of the people in Muong Khenh have been met. Especially at the beginning of the year, when the Khenh communal house opens its festival, it welcomes many visitors to offer incense, pray for wealth, fortune, and peace, while also attracting visitors with its unique and attractive rituals, ceremonies, and practices. In addition to the main festival, during the year, the communal house also holds a new rice ceremony, rice leaf washing ceremonies, and pest extermination ceremonies.

Because the Covid-19 pandemic has been controlled, the Khenh communal house festival in the spring of Quy Mao - 2023 took place in a jubilant atmosphere, organized on a large scale including both the ceremony and the festival. On February 2-4 (ie January 12-14), people flocked to the communal house to witness the rituals and sincerely remember and express gratitude to their ancestors who helped the villagers have a peaceful life. Thousands of visitors from inside and outside the province were also eager to experience and join in the atmosphere of this unique festival.

Ms. Nguyen Phuong Nhung, a tourist from Hanoi, shared: This is the first time I have been to the festival. During my one-day stay, unfortunately I could not experience all the festival activities. I am really impressed with the beauty, humanity and Muong culture that the ceremony brought.

The Khenh communal house festival also satisfies the desire to preserve and restore the unique cultural beauty and values of the Muong Khenh people with many rituals and ceremonies recreated such as: the ritual of giving out lucky rice at the beginning of the year with the wish for a new year with lots of luck, wealth and fortune for everyone; the bird praying ceremony reminds everyone to join hands to protect the environment and the ecosystem; the spinning of the Da Ha statue represents the philosophy of life of the Muong people; knocking on the bamboo pole to chase away storms, thunder and lightning, calling for rain and the joyful custom of holding a festival to pray for peace in the Muong land, for men and women to find their lovers.

Besides reenacting spiritual rituals, genealogical stories, praying for favorable weather, good crops, and good health, locals and tourists can also participate in traditional folk entertainment activities of the Muong people such as playing rafts, pushing sticks, tug of war, and throwing balls...

Bui Minh

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