Spring festivals celebrated across the country

Gau Tao, the traditional outdoor festivity observed by H’Mong people in Lao Cai province, kicked off on the morning of January 31.

On the opening day, the villagers selected a tall, straight bamboo tree to make it into a Neu pole, which was then planted on a flat and open space. Villagers gather around the Neu pole, which is decorated with a wine bottle, a bundle of rice, a cob of corn, and a red ribbon, to pray to the heavens and the Earth for a new year with health and bumper crops.

They then participated in various folk games and sporting events, such as crossbow shooting, top playing, danh yen (a game similar to badminton using a shuttlecock made of bamboo stuck with some feathers), nem pao (passing a colorful cloth ball between teams) and gau plenh (love song) singing.

Also on the morning, hundreds of athletes, actors and actresses were brought together at a cultural and sports programme that kicked off in the Central Highlands province of Kon Tum. The three-day event entertains visitors with an assortment of activities, including a boat race on Dac Bla river, cock fighting, swing, Con (a ball made of colourful pieces of cloths) throwing, performances of traditional musical instruments, folk songs and dances, and water puppetry shows.

In the southern province of Tay Ninh, the annual Ba Den (Black Lady) Mountain Spring Festival opened the same day, attracting numerous pilgrims and visitors, who came there to pray for peace and wellbeing throughout the year.

The Ba Den mountain tourism site is considered one of the most famous spiritual lands in the southern region, worshipping Linh Son Thanh Mau (Linh Son Holy Mother). Two main festivals are held here every year, in the first and the fifth lunar months.

Also yesterday, a rural market was inaugurated at Phong Nha – Ke Bang tourist centre in Quang Binh province, introducing visitors to indigenous specialties of the locality, the making process of rice wine, and the arts of calligraphy.

A calligraphy festival is being held in Thanh Hoa city, together with various cultural activities, such as lion and dragon dances, a rice cooking contest, wrestling, and a 3,000-metre boat race on Lang river.

Meanwhile, 450 rowers from 29 teams eargerly participated in a boat race which kicked off yesterday on Sen Lake, Buon Trap village, Kron Ana district, Dak Lak province.