ethnic minority Drum Breaking Festival of the Ma Coong Ethnic Group

When the drums are beaten to open the festival, all the people gather around a big wood fire and drink alcohol from a large vase. Young men try to outdo each other by beating the drums as hard and fast as they can to break them. Other people join hands and dance around the fire.

Under the full moon and by the flickering fire, the Ma Coong people take turns beating the drums, drinking alcohol, dancing, and chanting “My God, we’re so happy!”

The sound of drums is a spiritual, magical sound, like the voice of the Ma Coong people in the depths of the forest, unaffected by wind, rain, and creatures. Village chief Dinh Xon said, “The festival prays for good fortune for all villagers. Everyone enjoys the festival. We must uphold our tradition and develop it for future generations.”

Peter, a Danish expert on cultural heritage and sustainable development in Vietnam, said, “This is the first time I’ve attended the drum-breaking festival. It’s fantastic. The custom represents the relationship between nature and humans. It’s important to preserve this festival for the cultural diversity of ethnic groups in Quang Binh province.”

Approximately 3,000 Ma Coong people live in 18 hamlets in Thuong Trach commune within the UNESCO-recognized Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park.

In 2019, the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism recognized the Ma Coong drum-breaking festival as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage. The Department of Cultural Heritages has partnered with local authorities to train the community in preserving their heritage and has provided them with the necessary equipment and drums to practice the festival.

Nguyen Huu Hong, Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee of Bo Trach district, revealed, “We are dedicated to promoting the cultural values of the Ma Coong and the drum-breaking festival. The district has plans to restore the festival’s original characteristics.”

Dinh Du from Ca Roong 2 hamlet explains that the drum-breaking festival is also known as the night of love festival for unmarried people:

“The custom is to beat the drums until they are broken. The festival is an opportunity for boys and girls to socialize and potentially form romantic relationships. They may even end up getting married,” Dinh Du explained.

When the rooster crows and the sun rises, the drum-breaking festival and the night of love festival come to an end. The Ma Coong people begin a new year of production. Many couples end up getting married after the drum-breaking festival, including Vietnamese-Lao cross-border couples.

The post ethnic minority

Drum Breaking Festival of the Ma Coong Ethnic Group appeared first on Vietexplorer.com.

Nhận xét

Đăng nhận xét

Bài đăng phổ biến từ blog này

Hanoi celebrates Christmas with unity and love

Hình ảnh
Despite the cold weather this Christmas in Hanoi, the peaceful and festive atmosphere for the Catholic community and Hanoi’s townspeople remains undiminished. The streets are filled with joy and festive spirit, creating a vibrant and lively ambiance. Locals gather at St. Joseph’s Cathedral on Nha Chung Street to celebrate Christmas. The photos capture the joyous moments of the celebration. A Christmas of unity… Euphoria is in the air in Thach Bich Parish, Bich Hoa Commune, and Thanh Oai District as the Catholic community celebrates their most sacred holiday. Everyone comes together to decorate homes and light up the streets, especially on Thach Bich Church premises. Thach Bich Parish is a longstanding and prominent Hanoi Archdiocese parish with approximately 8,000 parishioners. It consistently upholds the spirit of ‘living a good life following the faith.’ The parish actively engages in economic development and contributes to social activities, working together to build a prospero
Đọc thêm

Promoting Cuba to the Youth: Efforts of HCM City’s Vietnam – Cuba Friendship Association

Hình ảnh
The Vietnam – Cuba Friendship Association’s chapter in Ho Chi Minh City (VCFA HCMC) will continue to promote people-to-people diplomacy activities to increase understanding between the people of Vietnam and Cuba as well as between HCM City and Cuban localities in particular, contributing to further intensifying the special relations between the two countries. This orientation was approved at the third congress of the association for the 2023-2028 tenure held in HCM City on December 28, VNA reported. Truong Thi Hien, chair of the Vietnam – Cuba Friendship Association in Ho Chi Minh City for the 2023 – 2028 term, spoke at the congress. Photo: HUFO Accordingly, the VCFA HCMC will focus on promoting communication activities, including setting up a YouTube channel named “Cuba – The Beautiful Island”, to introduce the country and people of Cuba to people from all walks of life, especially young people, and the importance of the Vietnam-Cuba relations in the new situation. A
Đọc thêm

Young individuals in traditional attire captivate foreigners’ attention in Hanoi

The event, organized by young enthusiasts of Vietnamese traditional costumes, showcased various traditional garments including nhat binh (square-collared garb), ngu than (a five-paneled aristocratic gown from the 19th and early-20th centuries), and ao dai (Vietnam’s traditional long gown), among others, as well as traditional hats. Foreign tourists were impressed by young people dressed in unique and colorful traditional outfits. Many of them used their smartphones or cameras to capture the essence of the event, which was filled with Vietnamese culture. Nguyen Nga, a member of the organizing board, explained that the aim of the event was to promote Vietnamese traditional costumes to the public. While ao dai is already well-known, many people are not familiar with other types of traditional costumes, which are also valuable parts of the country’s heritage, Nga added. Daniel, a British tourist, expressed his excitement when he came across the event during his stroll in Hanoi. It was t
Đọc thêm