The village headman of Song Linh

Every year on the third day of the Lunar New Year, the Song Linh communal house festival takes place in Cau Da residential area, An Tuong ward. This is a traditional festival of the Cao Lan people in the village, praying for a year of favorable weather, bountiful harvests, and peace for all families. The main officiant at the communal house is the village headman, Hoang Tien Khuong, who still preserves many traditional prayers and unique dances of the Cao Lan people.

Preserving national culture

Mr. Khuong's family has a long history of being teachers, so from a young age he was familiar with classical Chinese and Vietnamese script. He also accompanied his father to religious ceremonies to learn. Thanks to this, he has learned and practiced many traditional rituals and dances of the Cao Lan people. Mr. Hoang Tien Khuong said that, like many other ethnic minorities in the province, the Cao Lan people have ceremonies such as funerals, prayers for wealth, prosperity, and a good harvest… Some of these ceremonies include traditional dances. In addition, there are dances depicting clearing fields, planting rice, and catching shrimp… showcasing the beauty of people in labor. Especially, musical instruments such as gongs and earthenware drums are indispensable.

Mr. Hoang Tien Khuong, from Cau Da residential group, An Tuong ward, is performing the necessary procedures for the ceremony.

The annual village temple ceremony is meticulously and thoughtfully prepared. The offerings are local products, signifying gratitude to the village guardian deity, prayers for national peace and prosperity, favorable weather, and the preservation of the community's cultural identity. The ceremony also expresses deep gratitude for the merits of ancestors, and a wish for peace, abundance, and happiness for the people. In addition, there are several other major ceremonies at the temple throughout the year, such as: the Rice Planting Ceremony (February 10th of the lunar calendar); the New Rice Ceremony (August 15th); the Grand Feast (October 10th) celebrating a bountiful harvest, good health, and a prosperous life; and the year-end closing ceremony (December 25th) to lock the temple doors until the new year.

To prevent the decline of his ethnic culture, Mr. Khuong is always ready to teach classical Chinese characters, rituals, and traditional Cao Lan dances to the younger generation. He says he is currently instructing five people in classical Chinese characters. His children and grandchildren are busy with family and work, so their studies are not continuous. However, he still makes time to teach anyone who needs it or can arrange their schedules. Learning classical Chinese characters is not simply about learning the script; it's also about learning ethics, learning how to be a good person, helping people to do good deeds and live meaningful lives.

Mr. Hoang Tien Khuong plays the gong, an indispensable musical instrument in some traditional ceremonies of the Cao Lan people.

Mr. Hoang Huu Thuc, from Cau Da residential area, An Tuong ward, shared that he had studied classical Chinese when he was young, but due to work commitments far from home, he only now has the time to continue studying. He believes that learning classical Chinese has profound educational significance, helping people to become more mature and responsible.

The meaning of happiness

In particular, many people have heard about the love charms of the Cao Lan people, and Master Hoang Tien Khuong is a reputable practitioner of this art. Master Hoang Tien Khuong says that love charms are meant to bring people together in love, or to help families on the verge of breaking up, resolving conflicts and misunderstandings between spouses to foster better understanding and empathy. He always inquires about the specific story of those who come to him for help, and if he can help, he does so enthusiastically. Therefore, many people from other communes and provinces have successfully received his assistance.

Mr. Hoang Tien Khuong instructs students on how to play the drums.

The ritual for making love charms involves offering sacrifices to the deities of marriage, the god of love, and the goddess of love, to unite the couple. Simultaneously, offerings are made to the Supreme Venerable Lord and the Jade Emperor, seeking blessings and protection for the two to be together and to maintain their happiness. Therefore, making love charms has profound humanistic significance, reflecting people's desire for marital happiness and a harmonious, complete family life. However, Mr. Khuong refuses to make charms for those with malicious intentions, clarifying that happiness cannot be forced but must be nurtured and positively influenced. More importantly, even with a charm, its effects are only short-lived. The most important thing is that the people involved understand and cherish their loved one and partner, and work together to build lasting happiness.

Not only has Mr. Khuong preserved the traditional cultural beauty of the Cao Lan ethnic group, but he has also been actively passing it on to the younger generation, so that these beautiful traditions can bring positive values ​​to community life.

Huyen Linh

Source: https://baotuyenquang.com.vn/van-hoa/du-lich/202601/ong-trum-dinh-lang-song-linh-4376da1/