"Red thread" connecting the highland community of Quang Nam

Like a “red thread” connecting village members, traditional festivals of the highland people not only clearly represent the unique cultural space, but also foster the relationship between the community to become more closely connected…

The Co Tu community in Pho and Bhlo Ben villages (Song Kon commune, Dong Giang) happily dance with drums and gongs at a traditional wedding ceremony. Photo: DANG NGOC

A traditional wedding ceremony of the Co Tu people was held, the whole Pho and Bhlo Ben villages (Song Kon commune, Dong Giang) joined in the space of drums and gongs, bustling with the Tan Tung Da Da dance.

Mr. Alang Be, an elder in Bhlo Ben village, said that according to the Co Tu people's concept, in addition to the bond between two individuals (bride and groom), the wedding ceremony is also a connection between two clans and the village community. Therefore, the wedding ceremony of the Co Tu people is often held very solemnly and imbued with traditional ritual elements.

“All the rituals that take place in the traditional wedding ceremony of the Co Tu people, from worshiping the gods, giving gifts to the “buffalo eating” ritual, are all witnessed by the village community. The wedding ceremony is considered an opportunity to connect the two families, and to strengthen the solidarity and connection between the two villages. This long-standing culture carries many traditional values ​​that the Co Tu people cannot abandon,” Mr. Alang Be shared.

Village elder Y Kong - former Chairman of the People's Committee of Dong Giang district said that, in addition to the traditional wedding ceremony, the Co Tu people living in the mountainous districts of Dong Giang, Tay Giang and Nam Giang still keep intact the rituals that unite the community. Typical customs include Cha haroo tame (eating new rice), Pơr'ngooch guong yen (eating oaths of brotherhood), Bhuôih kakoong (worshiping gods, thanking the forest)... with the village cultural space as the main theme.

The community ritual was recreated, marking the solidarity between the Co Tu people in Tay Giang district. Photo: DANG NGOC

“In all traditional ceremonies, the Co Tu people always focus on the spirit of solidarity, considering it the strength to survive and defeat all enemies. In the past, in addition to the individual role, the Co Tu people promoted the collective spirit. From funerals, weddings to farming work, they always received support from the whole community. Because everyone saw their responsibility in it, they could not be separated,” confided old man Y Kong.

Not only the Co Tu people, the spirit of community solidarity is recognized in many other highland ethnic groups living at the foot of the Truong Son Dong mountain range. Typical examples are the new rice offering (Tơl Ba Riang) to thank the rice god of the Ta Rieng people in Nam Giang; the water trough offering ceremony of the Ca Dong and Xe Dang people in Nam Tra My; the New Year festival of the Bhnoong people in Phuoc Son...

The common point of these festivals is through traditional rituals, the people give thanks to the gods, strengthen solidarity, especially the clans living together in the same land, in the middle of the Truong Son forest. How beautiful is the image of the Co Tu, Bhnoong, Ta Rieng people holding hands and dancing around the fire, singing songs of solidarity in the middle of the vast mountains...

Source: https://baoquangnam.vn/soi-chi-do-ket-noi-cong-dong-vung-cao-quang-nam-3156866.html