The northern mountainous province of Tuyen Quang on February 21
celebrated the Long Tong (going to the field) festival and received a
certificate recognising the Tay ethnic ritual as part of the national
intangible cultural heritage.
Long Tong festival,
together with Then singing – both are typical cultural features of the
Tay ethnic minority group in the north, were added to the list of
national intangible cultural heritage early this year.
The festival opened at Pu Bao temple in Lam Binh district with the
offering of trays of local specialties to gods to thank them for the
crops and to ask for their blessings so local people can enjoy
favourable weather conditions and have a comfortable and happy life in
the New Year.
After a shaman said
prayers and performed rituals, Deputy Minister of Culture-Sports and
Tourism Dang Thi Bich Lien presented the heritage certificate to
provincial officials.
A Tich Dien (going to the
field to plough) ceremony followed and then visitors were invited to
participate in a wide range of cultural and sports activities including
stilt walking, hooting with a bow and arrows, and “con” (cloth ball)
throwing.
Long Tong is also the biggest
agricultural festival of the northern mountainous province and Viet Bac
region (including six provinces of Bac Kan, Thai Nguyen, Tuyen Quang,
Cao Bang, Lang Son, and Ha Giang).-VNA