Ooc Po – Spring rhythm echoes from the hillside of the Nung people in Thai Nguyen

In the journey to affirm its position as the economic , cultural and educational center of the Northern Midlands and Mountains, Thai Nguyen has been focusing on investing in and preserving the treasure trove of cultural heritages rich in the identities of the ethnic groups in the area. From tangible values such as communal houses, temples, pagodas, to intangible heritages such as festivals, languages, folk knowledge... all create a solid foundation for the province to build the image of a dynamic locality but still imbued with tradition.

The shaman performs the worship ceremony.

Festival imbued with the Nung people's belief in praying for peace

The Ooc Po Festival, which in the Nung language means “hill festival”, is an important ritual that begins the new year for the people of Tan Do. This is the time when people express their respect to the gods, pray to dispel bad luck, and send evil forces away from the village. At the same time, people send their wishes for a year of favorable weather, abundant crops, prosperous livestock, and family peace.

In the context of increasingly changing modern life, the meaning of the festival becomes more profound when it is not only a religious activity but also a spiritual support, creating community cohesion. Those values are maintained in each ritual, each prayer, each carefully prepared offering tray. For the Nung people, Ooc Po is not simply an occasion for early spring fun, but also a continuation of tradition, the presence of ancestors and roots in contemporary life.

Before 2007, the festival was held irregularly, with some years being interrupted due to economic conditions and human resources. However, with the effort to preserve national culture, since being restored and held regularly on the 4th day of Tet every year, Ooc Po has become an important and indispensable event in the life of the Nung community in Van Lang.

Solemn ceremony – Identity preserved through generations

Preparations for the festival began before the Lunar New Year. The village elders and dignitaries met to discuss, agree on plans, and assign personnel to ensure the ceremony and festival take place in a complete, solemn manner and in accordance with traditional customs. This is the way the community joins hands to preserve the heritage.

Early in the morning of the festival, when the sound of gongs and drums resounded from the village communal house, people in the area were busy preparing offerings. The celebrant – usually a shaman or an elder knowledgeable about the ritual – appeared in a traditional tunic, turban and white pants. What is special is that on this day, the celebrant does not wear traditional mo or tao costumes such as yellow shirts, green shirts or cassocks, because according to folk beliefs, the Ooc Po ritual has a communal meaning rather than a religious belief, so the costume needs to show simplicity and solemnity.

At around 8:30, the ceremony officially began. On the offering trays, meat and vegetarian dishes were arranged neatly. Men in traditional costumes carried the offering trays on their heads from the village chief's house to the communal house. Behind them were women and mothers in ancient Nung dresses, creating a procession of harmonious and solemn beauty.

After the ceremony at the communal house, a Taoist ritual dance for peace was performed on the field. The dancers' slow, decisive steps combined with the sound of drums and gongs created a sacred yet intimate atmosphere, like a rhythm of communication between people and heaven and earth at the beginning of the year.

Currently, Mr. Hoang Van Toong - a prestigious shaman in the community - takes on the role of master of ceremonies. He said: "The festival is like a spring meal inviting the village's tutelary god and the King to attend to bless the village with a healthy and peaceful year. Although organized according to the conditions each year, unicorn dancing, throwing cones, and Sli singing are never absent."

Folk games are held during the festival, contributing to preserving the Nung cultural identity.

Bustling festival – A place connecting the community and tourists

If the ceremony is solemn, the festival is a space filled with laughter, attracting the participation of a large number of people and tourists. Traditional games such as playing the bird's nest, walking on stilts, tug of war, throwing the ball... vividly recreate the daily life and work of the Nung people. In particular, throwing the ball is a ritual symbolizing the wish for a bountiful harvest, while Sli singing carries the charm and sophistication of Nung folk culture.

For many visitors, witnessing these activities firsthand leaves a deep impression because of the sincere, rustic but attractive atmosphere. The festival becomes a bridge for people to better understand the culture and lifestyle of the Nung people; at the same time, it opens up opportunities for local youth to interact, appreciate and be proud of their homeland's heritage.

In the general development flow of Thai Nguyen, Ooc Po Festival is gradually becoming a valuable cultural and tourism product. With the advantage of natural landscape, traditional village space, and typical festival colors, Van Lang has favorable conditions to develop community tourism associated with Nung cultural experiences.

In recent years, the number of tourists visiting the festival has increased. Many households have started to develop small-scale catering and accommodation services; traditional products such as wine, sticky rice, brocade, etc. are also introduced more during the festival. Through this, people have both additional income and contribute to spreading traditional cultural identity.

Exploiting festival values in conjunction with tourism development is becoming a suitable direction, harmonizing conservation and development. For Thai Nguyen , this is not only the story of Van Lang or the Nung community, but also part of the strategy to build an image of a province rich in identity, friendly and attractive to tourists.

Source: https://congluan.vn/ooc-po-nhip-xuan-vong-tu-trien-doi-cua-nguoi-nung-thai-nguyen-10320192.html