Poon Poong Festival

The artists reenact the Pôồn Pôông performance.

In Minh Son commune, from early morning, villagers called each other to the community center to prepare for the festival. At the center, the Pôông tree – the soul of the festival, the sacred axis connecting humanity with the universe – was erected solemnly. The tree trunk was decorated with clusters of wooden flowers, figures of birds and animals, and agricultural tools… symbolizing the natural world and the aspiration for growth and development. Around the Pôông tree, people gathered in circles, each playing a role in the performances, creating a vibrant picture of community life. The sounds of gongs and drums blended with songs and dances, all revolving around the Pôông tree, as a way of recreating the worldview of the Muong people, where humans are intimately connected to nature and their origins.

Standing out amidst this setting is the image of People's Artisan Pham Thi Tang (Lo village, Minh Son commune) in traditional ethnic attire. Despite being over 80 years old, her passion for traditional culture allows her to dance around the Poong tree, performing rituals with practiced skill. She acts as a "bridge" between the past and the present, conveying a message about preserving and continuing the heritage.

According to the Muong people's beliefs, "Poon Poong" means dancing and playing around a flowering tree. This is a form of folk performance deeply rooted in ritual and community. The festival is usually held on the full moon of the first, third, and seventh lunar months, or after the harvest season, to thank the gods and express wishes for a year of favorable weather, abundant harvests, and peaceful villages. The festival originates from the epic "Giving Birth to the Land and Water" and includes 48 unique performances revolving around the Poong tree, such as hunting wild animals, clearing land for farming, sharing water, building houses, fishing, weaving brocade, etc. Each performance reflects the Muong people's worldview, labor, life, and folk knowledge. The festival is also an occasion for the Muong people to pray for blessings for the faithful love between Nang Om and Bong Huong.

The festival begins with a ritual led by the shaman, Âu Máy. In the festival space, ancient prayers resound, inviting spirits and ancestors to witness the event. Following the ceremony are folk performances. The movements are vividly recreated, simulating the processes of agricultural production such as clearing land, plowing, harvesting, and pounding rice, creating a realistic and symbolic portrayal of life.

With its enduring cultural values, the Pôồn Pôông performance (from the former Ngọc Lặc district) has been included in the national list of intangible cultural heritage. This is not only a recognition but also opens up opportunities for the festival to be preserved and promoted in contemporary life. Ms. Lê Thị Giang, Head of the Culture and Social Affairs Department of Minh Sơn Commune People's Committee, stated: “The preservation and promotion of the Pôồn Pôông festival must be carried out systematically and over the long term, with the people playing a central role as the custodians and transmitters of the heritage. At the same time, the commune will link the preservation of the festival with the sustainable development of community tourism.”

Text and photos: Thùy Linh

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/tray-hoi-poon-poong-283595.htm