1. Long Tong Festival
Long Tong Festival of the Tay people - Unique cultural feature (Photo source: Collected)
- Time: Early January of the Lunar calendar
Long Tong Festival is one of the festivals in Ha Giang with strong national identity, held to pray for a bountiful harvest and a prosperous life. The event attracts a large number of locals and tourists to participate.
The ceremony begins with a worship ritual performed by a shaman, offering gifts to thank the God of Agriculture, the God of Mountains, and the God of Streams, praying for a favorable new year. Next, the festival takes place with exciting traditional performances such as then singing and coi singing.
The highlight of the festival is the shuttlecock throwing game, where boys and girls compete to throw the shuttlecock through a circle placed on a tall tree. Whoever throws it successfully will be considered the luckiest person of the year. In addition, the festival also has many folk games such as tug of war, stick pushing, and plowing competitions, demonstrating the spirit of solidarity and community strength.
Long Tong Festival not only has spiritual significance but is also an opportunity to unite the community and preserve the traditional cultural beauty of the highland people.
2. Khau Vai love market festival
Khau Vai love market, Ha Giang (Photo source: Collected)
- Time: 27/3 Lunar calendar
When it comes to festivals in Ha Giang, we cannot miss the Khau Vai Love Market, which takes place on the 27th day of the third lunar month. This is a special occasion for lovers who cannot be together to meet again and share their feelings in a cultural space with strong identity.
Amidst the peach and pear blossoms blooming on the Dong Van stone plateau, the festival is bustling with the sounds of Mong flutes, mouth harps and love songs of the Mong, Nung and Giay people. Not only a dating place, Khau Vai Love Market is also a unique cultural exchange point.
From Meo Vac town, visitors can travel through Can Chu Phin, Lung Pu to reach Khau Vai - a place known as "Phong Luu Market", a unique cultural feature not only in Vietnam but also in the world .
3. Gau Tao Festival
Gau Tao Festival - a unique folk culture in Ha Giang (Photo source: Collected)
- Time: From the 1st to the 15th of January
Gau Tao Festival is one of the festivals in Ha Giang that has an important meaning for the Mong community. This event usually takes place from the first to the fifteenth day of the first lunar month with the purpose of thanking the gods and heaven and earth for their blessings, and praying for luck, health and a bountiful harvest. Depending on the family or community that organizes it, the festival can last from 3 to 9 days, attracting a large number of people and tourists to participate.
In the Mong people's concept, "Gau Tao" means a thanksgiving ceremony, showing respect to heaven and earth, gods and ancestors. The festival also means praying for blessings, healthy children, a peaceful family and a prosperous life. Coming to this festival in Ha Giang, visitors not only get to immerse themselves in sacred rituals but also have the opportunity to experience many unique cultural activities such as Khen dancing, love songs and traditional folk games.
4. Moon Festival
- Time: Full moon of the 8th lunar month
Every full moon of August, Ha Giang is bustling with the Cau Trang festival - one of the festivals in Ha Giang that bears the cultural imprint of the Tay people. Held in Ban Loan village, Yen Dinh commune, Bac Me district, this festival has a profound spiritual meaning, expressing the wish for a year of favorable weather, bountiful crops and a peaceful life for the villagers. According to folk beliefs, this is an occasion to welcome Mother Moon and fairies down to earth to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival, bestowing blessings on people.
The Moon Bridge Festival consists of two main parts: the ceremony and the festival, taking place in a spacious space, imbued with traditional identity. The ceremony begins on the evening of the 14th day of the 8th lunar month, when villagers perform a ritual of worshiping the local land princess at the communal temple to ask for permission to hold the festival on the full moon night. After that, the festival takes place with many exciting activities such as dancing, singing, lantern procession and folk games, creating a joyful atmosphere, connecting the community.
5. Cap Sac Festival
Unique Dao people's initiation ceremony in Ha Giang (Photo source: Collected)
- Time: November, December or January
Among the festivals in Ha Giang, the Dao people's Cap Sac ceremony has a special meaning, considered a coming of age ceremony reserved for men. This is not only a religious ceremony but also marks the maturity of a man in the community. According to the Dao people's concept, if they have not undergone the Cap Sac ceremony, no matter how old they are, men are not recognized as true adults. They do not have a name, have not been granted a religious title and cannot undertake important jobs in the village.
On the contrary, those who have completed this ritual, even though they are young, are still considered adults, have the authority to participate in religious rituals and take on important roles in the community. The Cap sac ceremony not only has spiritual value but is also a unique cultural feature, contributing to preserving the traditional identity of the Dao people in Ha Giang. This is one of the festivals in Ha Giang that attracts the attention of many tourists who want to learn about the unique customs and practices here.
6. Fire Dance Festival
The mysterious Fire Dance Festival of the Pa Then people (Photo source: Collected)
- Time: October 16th Lunar Calendar
Fire Dance Festival is one of the festivals in Ha Giang that is imbued with the Dao ethnic identity. The event takes place at the end of the year, when the weather is cold, with the wish to drive away evil spirits and diseases and pray for a peaceful and bountiful new year. At the beginning, the shaman performs a ritual to worship the gods for about 1-2 hours.
After that, the boys are possessed and bravely jump into the fire without fear or pain. Each person dances for 3-4 minutes, and can participate multiple times to demonstrate strength and agility. This festival is only for men, and the participants always receive admiration from the villagers. This is not only a sacred ritual but also a cultural highlight that attracts tourists to Ha Giang.
7. Traditional Tet Festival of the Lo Lo people
Tet in Lo Lo Chai village at the foot of Lung Cu flagpole (Photo source: Collected)
- Time: From December 25 to 30
Every Tet holiday, when spring is everywhere, the Lo Lo people in Ha Giang are busy preparing to welcome the new year according to their traditional customs. Festivals in Ha Giang are not only an occasion for family reunions but also have deep spiritual significance, expressing the belief in a peaceful and lucky new year.
Starting from December 28th to 29th, Lo Lo families clean their houses and gardens together to remove bad luck from the old year. Trash is taken to intersections, symbolizing the dispelling of evil spirits and preparation to welcome blessings, health and peace in the new year.
On the afternoon of the 30th of Tet, the New Year's Eve meal is carefully prepared, an occasion for family members to gather together. The host performs the ritual of worshipping ancestors, praying for health and calling the souls of family members to celebrate Tet together. The special thing about this ritual is that men and sons will worship a hen, while women and daughters will worship a rooster, representing the balance of yin and yang and the wish for prosperity.
Hopefully, with the information about festivals in Ha Giang shared in the article, visitors will have more ideal suggestions to choose the most suitable time to explore this rocky plateau. Wish you a complete journey and memorable experiences!
Source: https://www.vietravel.com/vn/am-thuc-kham-pha/le-hoi-o-ha-giang-v16781.aspx
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