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.

View more from VietExplorer:

Photo exhibition on Paris Peace Accords underway in Hanoi
Old Age Brings No Barrier to Vietnamese Veteran’s Patriotic Spirit
Escaping from village repeatedly struck by lightning in central Vietnam
Sick girl abandoned in Vietnam forest now healthy, happy
In Vietnam, husband-wife duo offer food, healthcare, lodging to those in need
A young Vietnamese man’s passion for colorizing historical visual documentaries
Prisoners join various activities to welcome in Lunar New Year
Love in a hopeless place: an ethnic minority woman finds love in the middle of a pandemic
Crab races popular in Vietnamese province
Emperor Ham Nghi’s paintings, items on display in central Vietnam
Vietnamese Citizens Head to the Streets for Tet Holiday Shopping
Lunar New Year Greetings from Foreign Ambassadors to Vietnam
Exploring Hue City’s Lunar New Year Fruit Jams and Cakes
Exhibition on Party, President Ho Chi Minh opens in Binh Thuan
Discovering Tet traditions of three regions across Vietnam
A new generation of Vietnamese stamp collectors
Top five travel destinations nationwide for Tet festival
Overseas Vietnamese spread Tet fine traditions
Preparations for Ho Chi Minh City’s annual spring flower festival near completion
Vietnam News Today (Jan. 24): Vietnam Engages in Building of UN Convention Against Cybercrimes

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Making Over Hanoi’s Suburbs: The Impact of Resolution 15

Image
The results are revealed by the number of villages that meet the criteria for new-style rural development and improve livelihoods. By the first quarter of 2023, all 382 communes in the city have met the standards for rural development, making it the highest number of commune-level administrative units to meet national criteria. Meanwhile, the livelihoods of farmers have been steadily improving, with rural residents earning a per capita income of over VND54 million (US$2,300) per year. In addition, the suburbs of Hanoi have seen the construction of many schools, roads, and public welfare facilities. The eye-catching colorful murals of Dong Xuan Primary School, Quoc Oai District, Hanoi. Part of Vong Xuyen Commune, Phuc Tho District, met the criteria of beautiful, green, clean, and environmental protection. The modern appearance of Dong Am Village Cultural Center, Phu Man Commune, Quoc Oai District. Growing pomelos brings sig
Read more

6,000 runners triumph over Dalat Ultra Trail 2024 in Vietnam’s Central Highlands

The International Running Event Kicked Off in Da Lat The annual Dalat Ultra Trail is happening in Da Lat, a beautiful resort city in Lam Dong Province, Vietnam’s Central Highlands. More than 6,000 participants are taking part in the event, running through the scenic Langbiang Mountain. The Dalat Ultra Trail 2024 offers a range of distances for all levels of runners. There are six categories to choose from: 5km, 15km, 25km, 55km, 75km, and the most challenging category, the 112km race. The 112km race started on Friday night, while the rest of the races began on Saturday morning. Participants from around the world are coming together to compete in this prestigious event. The event is organized by Vietnam MTB Series, a professional sports event organizer, in collaboration with the Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism of Lam Dong Province. This year marks the sixth edition of the race since its inception in 2018. The Dalat Ultra Trail is also part of the prestigious Asia Trail Ma
Read more

Tourism in Singapore Seeks Boost from Vietnamese Customers

Image
Vietnam and Singapore have entered into a partnership to enhance bilateral tourism efforts, exemplified by the recent cooperation agreement signed between national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines (VNA) and the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) for the period 2023-2025. Vietnam and Singapore are currently going through a robust rebound in inbound tourism and have emerged as highly sought-after destinations for both leisure and business travel. This partnership marks the beginning of a successful collaboration between VNA and STB. Together, we will embark on impactful marketing campaigns aimed at promoting Singapore’s exceptional travel experiences. Our ultimate goal is to position Vietnam Airlines as the preferred airline for Vietnamese travelers.  Leaders of Vietnam Airlines (VNA) and the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) signed a MoU on August 15. Photo: Vietnam Airlines  Vietnam is currently among Singapore’s top 10 source markets for tourism. In the first seven months of this
Read more