Lao people in Nua Ngam commune celebrate the water festival (Source: VNA) Dien Bien (VNA) –The northernmountainous province of Dien Bien has two more heritages named in the list ofnational intangible cultural heritages, raising its total to six.
They are the Bun huot nam (water festival)of the Lao ethnic minority people in Nua Ngam commune, Dien Bien district, andthe art of making patterns on the traditional costumes of Mongz Lenhs, a branchof the Mong ethnic minority group in Sa Long commune, Muong Cha district.
Between 1986 and 2015, the water festivalwas held annually on the occasion of the Lunar New Year (Tet) Festival tofacilitate family members’ reunion. However, since 2015, it has been celebratedon its traditional days, which fall on April 14-16 in Vietnamese calendar andMay 11-13 in Lao calendar.
It is considered an important festival ofthe Lao people, with numerous traditional rituals, including ancestorworshipping and praying for rain.
During the festival, people splash water towash away bad lucks in the old year and wish for the best lucks for the nextyear, as well as to farewell the dry reason and welcome rain for their newcrops.
The event also features a number of folk games, such as Tau phac sa – tau lasa(turtle incubates eggs), Xua khop mu (tigers catch pigs), Ngu kin Khiet (snakescatch frogs), Pit mac tanh (ripe melon picking), among others.
Meanwhile, the art of making patterns ontraditional costumes still keeps the traditional technique of using wax to makepatterns, creating unique cultural and historical values and reflecting the marvelousskills of the Mong ethnic minority people.-VNA
VNA
