Fun at the Gầu tào festival

Attending the festival were representatives from provincial departments and agencies; political and social organizations… along with leaders of the Party Committee, People's Council, People's Committee, and Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Doan Ket ward, and a large number of people from Gia Khau I village and neighboring wards and communes.

The ceremonial part of the Gau Tao Festival.

The Gầu Tào Festival is one of the unique traditional cultural activities of the Mong ethnic group. The festival is not only a time to celebrate the spring, pray for blessings and good fortune at the beginning of the year, but also a space for gathering and spreading distinctive cultural values, contributing to strengthening the unity of ethnic groups in the area. Gầu Tào, meaning "outdoor play" in the Mong language, has ancient origins, closely linked to the spiritual life and production of the people. The festival is usually held at the beginning of the new year, aiming to pray for favorable weather, bountiful harvests, family peace, and healthy children. For the Mong people in Gia Khâu, it is also an opportunity to pay tribute to their ancestors, express gratitude to heaven and earth, and convey their hopes for a prosperous and happy new year.

A large number of people and officials attended the festival.

The ceremony was held solemnly with the ritual of erecting the ceremonial pole and a prayer for peace performed by the village elders and shamans. The ritual was maintained according to tradition, demonstrating respect for and a commitment to preserving the cultural identity of the community.

The festival was lively, with traditional games vividly recreated.

The festival was lively and attracted a large number of locals and tourists. The graceful khene dances, melodious folk songs, and vibrant colors of traditional costumes created a vivid and culturally rich springtime scene. Many traditional games such as pao throwing, stick pushing, crossbow shooting, rice cake pounding competitions, and thang co cooking were organized systematically, creating a joyful and unifying atmosphere.

The teams participated in the rice cake making competition.

This year's festival received careful attention and coordination from the Party Committee and the government of Doan Ket ward, ensuring security, order, and safety for the people and tourists. This affirms the correct policy of preserving and promoting traditional cultural values in conjunction with developing community tourism and building cultural life at the grassroots level.

Cultural performances at the festival .

In the context of integration and development, maintaining the Gầu Tào Festival in Lai Châu not only contributes to preserving the Mong ethnic identity but also enriches the spiritual life of the people, creating a cultural highlight that spreads throughout every family and village in the border region of Lai Châu.