Exciting Gau Tao festival at Hang Kia, Pa Co

Gau Tao Festival attracts a large number of locals and tourists.

The festival is divided into two parts: the ceremony and the festival. The ceremony takes place with the main ritual of erecting the pole. The pole in the Gau Tao Festival symbolizes the sacred tree connecting heaven and earth. The pole is planted on a large, flat piece of land. The top of the pole always faces east - the direction of birth with the wish to pray for children, and also the direction of the Sun with the wish for a bountiful harvest.

The ceremony to worship the tree includes offerings such as chicken, wine, rice, and paper. The celebrant lights incense, burns votive paper, then walks counterclockwise 3 times around the tree, then walks counterclockwise 3 times, sings the Tinh chay song, and sets a date to inform the gods about the pole raising and the thanksgiving ceremony.

The ceremony is held with the wish that heaven, earth, and gods will bless the village with peace and happiness, a bountiful harvest in the new year, favorable weather, and that everyone and every family will be happy, healthy, prosperous, and have a good harvest.

After the pole-raising ceremony, it was time for the festival, when the young men and women, the old and the young of the H'Mong village held hands and danced in circles to the rhythm of the Khen. In the H'Mong culture, the Khen represents spirituality and traditional beliefs, and is a sacred object in the H'Mong rituals and festivals.

Gau Tao Festival demonstrates the cultural identity of the H'Mong people in Hoa Binh, while promoting and introducing the history, culture and tourism potential of the two communes of Hang Kia-Pa Co to domestic and international tourists.

Not only does it meet the aspirations and spiritual life of the people of Hang Kia-Pa Co communes, the Festival also contributes to building a healthy cultural and spiritual life and creating a joyful and exciting atmosphere for the people of the two communes to welcome the Spring of Giap Thin in 2024.

Coming to Gau Tao Festival, visitors will enjoy unique performances imbued with the cultural identity of the H'Mong ethnic group and experience many attractive folk games...

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