Being a mountainous district of Hanoi capital, due to is terrain difference, Ba Vi has a unique culture of ethnic minorities.
This is also the ancient land with rich traditions, historical and cultural monuments, and festivals. Spiritual life, especially belief activities of people in the district, is very diverse, bolded with the identity of each ethnic group.
Land of historical monuments
Thuong Temple, Trung Temple and Ha Temple monument cluster is one of the 75 monuments worshipping Tan Vien God in Ba Vi. On the 14th, 15th and 16th of January each year, locals are eager to celebrate the festival to commemorate the God who help prevent negative actions of water and protect the crops for them to live a happy and prosperous life. This is one of the few regional festivals that still preserve the inherent cultural beauty. Instead of the loud sound of the drum or specular procession is the heroic sound of gongs, creating a jubilant and bustling atmosphere at the foot of Ba Vi mountain. Thousands of Buddhists and visitors from all area return to respectfully line up for the ceremony. Along with that, the festival also has cultural and sports activities of the mountainous area maintained by the district during Tan Vien Son God Festival on the full moon day of every lunar January. This is an opportunity for the ethnic minorities of the district to showcase their unique culture. These sports are stick pushing, archery, crossbow shooting, climbing, and “Con” throwing. The peaceful mountain forests are now blended by cheers of ethnic minority girls, boys, and tourists from other parts.
Meeting the Muong people in the mountainous communes such as Minh Quang, Ba Trai and Van Hoa in the district in the early days of the new spring, visitors also listen to “Ru Un” rhythms and enjoy echoic but warm gong sound of the villages. “Ru Un” is a type of lullabies, being attractive and unique by the tone as well as rhythm with unique and poetic lyrics. This is one of the popular folk genres of the Muong people. Since the Muong language is somewhat similar to the Vietnamese language, it is quite easy to understand the meaning just with some explanation. “Ru Un” is a kind of day-sleep lullabies, close to some basic tunes. “Ru Un” songs are of the Muong poetic fork, in which the image of a mother with an abundant love for her children and family is found.
The whole district of Ba Vi currently has 28,000 people belonging to 18 different ethnic groups, in which Muong and Dao ethnic groups make up the majority of the population, mainly residing in seven mountainous communes. The district has 75 monuments worshipping Tan Vien Son God. The Thuong Temple, Trung Temple and Ha Temple monument cluster’s festival held on the 14th of every lunar January is one of the most prominent regional spiritual festivals.
According to the statistics of Ba Vi District Office of Ethnic Groups, there are 11 sets of gongs kept and guaranteed in the mountainous communes of the district. Ms. Nguyen Thi Lam, who has contributed greatly to the preservation of Muong’s gong art in Ba Trai commune, said: “The gong art is considered a cultural feature in the festivals, New Year’s Day and wedding parties of the Muong people. Also, the sound of gongs is deeply attached to the Muong from birth to death”.
Rituals at Jumping Festival of Dao people in Ba Vi Commune
Cultural diversity
Roughly 23% of the population in Quang Minh Commune is Muong ethnic group. Here, the commune also has 4 teams of gongs regularly practising and serving the locals on New Year’s Day and at community activities. The commune’s gong teams including both old and young people have performed in many places and left an impression for the viewers. The authorities and artisans here are always aware of how to teach young people to follow and promote their own traditional cultural values. Ba Vi is a commune with 98% of the population being Dao people. Along with the Chuong dance, Khen dance, and Cap Sac ceremony (to recognize a man as an adult), Jumping Festival is the most characteristic feature of the Dao people here. According to village elders of Yen Son Hamlet, Ba Vi commune, long ago, when the Dao ancestors in the north crossed the East Sea into Vietnam, some boats encountered wind storms, they had to jump to ask for the elves’ favor and promised when they landed safely, they would then hold the Jumping Ceremony to show their gratitude. The jumping ceremony is only held at “The Family Chief’s House”, usually every several years, but not longer than 12 years to avoid biting the hand that feeds them. Families who hold Jumping Ceremony will be supported by the whole hamlet. At the beginning of the ceremony, the people set up the altar in the high and clean place, displaying the offerings, then inviting the gods and Dao ancestors to attend the ceremony. Mr. Trieu Phu Duc – Former Chairman of the People’s Committee of Ba Vi Commune, now also the prestigious person of Yen Son, said: “At the Jumping Ceremony, after the bell, stick, and ax dancing, Dao older men wearing traditional costumes solemnly do rituals with bells on hands and feet gliding swiftly on the ground to the music … “Tam Nguyen an ham” dance is performed by the master and about 10 young people to invite gods to attend. The final part is the turtle catching dance – the best dance of the ceremony”.
Following Jumping Ceremony is the Tet festival. From the first day to the end of the Test festival, families worship their ancestors and join activities to welcome the spring as the other ethnic groups. Together with these activities, the maintenance and development of handicraft villages, such as brocade weaving, stilt house culture, Dao altar; traditional competitions and some folk games, as well as tangible cultural products, such as Dao bells and Muong clothes contribute to create a truly unique and typical cultural space of ethnic minorities in the district. At the same time, it also enriches the traditional culture of ethnic minorities of Vietnam.
Hong Lich