Following the Co Tu village festival...

The Co Tu people participate in a performance of drum and gong music. Photo: DANG NGUYEN

After nearly a 10-year hiatus, the 4th Co Tu Traditional Culture Festival in Song Kon commune (which opened yesterday, July 18th) seems to have not dampened the expectations of both locals and tourists.

The festival, which includes cultural and artistic performances combined with traditional cuisine , is seen as an effort by the Co Tu people after the pandemic to encourage tourists to stay longer with the community.

A show of colors

The traditional village festival begins. Co Tu artisans take turns walking to the communal courtyard, right in front of the x'nur (ceremonial pole) of Bho Hoong village.

The village elder's voice echoed amidst the rhythmic gongs and drums, signaling the imminent start of the festivities. The gongs resounded, continuing the ritual of offering sacrifices to the spirits, and the entire village joined in the drumming, joyfully performing the Tâng Tung and Da Dá dances.

Katu girls radiate beauty in their traditional attire. Photo: DANG NGUYEN

Returning home after studying at Quang Nam Ethnic Boarding High School, Alang Thi Phuong Thuy spent nearly a month training with the people in Bhlo Ben village (Song Kon commune).

The drum and gong dance performance, combined with the tang tung and da da dances of Phuong Thuy and the villagers of Bhlo Ben, attracted a warm reception from the community and tourists.

Phuong Thuy said that this was her first time participating in a large-scale community festival, so she felt very proud. Many traditional Da Da dance movements were taught and demonstrated, helping young people like Thuy understand more about the cultural colors and the value of this unique and long-standing performing art form of the Co Tu people.

"Each village has its own unique character, and everyone hopes to bring the most unique performances to viewers, recreating the vibrant and captivating life of the Co Tu people to entertain tourists," Phuong Thuy shared.

The Da Da dance performed by Katu girls leaves a lasting impression on tourists. Photo: DANG NGUYEN

Phuong Thuy's story reminded me of an unexpected encounter with a group of tourists from Da Nang City on the morning of the festival. Most of them were students, who had coincidentally attended this traditional Co Tu village festival while participating in a survey for an upcoming charity program.

Witnessing a colorful traditional festival for the first time, Ngoc Thuy, a girl from Quang Tri province, shared that everyone in the group wanted to stay longer and see more of the local people's performances.

Therefore, throughout the festival, Thuy and her friends spent time watching and capturing the beautiful moments of the Co Tu community through their unique and impressive performances.

Deepening solidarity

According to Ms. Dinh Thi Ngoi, Chairwoman of the People's Committee of Song Kon commune, after being interrupted for many years by the COVID-19 pandemic, the locality is restarting the traditional Co Tu cultural festival as an opportunity to rekindle emotions and create a spirit of unity among the local community.

Village elders participate in reciting and singing folk songs. Photo: DANG NGUYEN

With the advantage of having a large Katu population, the festival also aims to preserve cultural values, especially the rituals of worshipping deities, and create an authentic community living space.

Ms. Ngoi said that, due to the impact of modern social life, many cultural values ​​of the Co Tu people are facing the risk of disappearing.

To further enhance the role of connecting, guiding, and transmitting traditional cultural values ​​within the community, especially among young people, the festival is seen as an opportunity to honor tangible and intangible cultural heritage values, contributing to the preservation of the Co Tu identity in its entirety.

"After this festival, in addition to promoting community participation in cultural preservation, the villages will continue to expand and maintain models of clubs for drum and gong dancing, brocade weaving, storytelling and singing, etc., creating confidence for the community in building a new, civilized, beautiful and prosperous life," Ms. Ngoi emphasized.

A stall displaying agricultural products for visitors at the festival. Photo: DANG NGUYEN

Throughout the festival, hundreds of artisans, performers, and members of the Co Tu community enthusiastically participated in introducing and promoting mountain agricultural products and showcasing unique cultural and tourism products.

In addition, the locality also displays exhibitions of socio-economic development achievements, organizes art exchanges, and showcases traditional costumes combined with drum and gong dances, storytelling, and folk singing…

“This year’s festival attracted more than 400 artisans and performers. Therefore, the festival is not simply a cultural event, but also an opportunity to unite the Co Tu community, create momentum for economic development, and preserve and promote unique, long-standing cultural values,” said Ms. Ngoi.

Source: https://baoquangnam.vn/vong-theo-hoi-lang-co-tu-3138176.html