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| Tourists at Hang Bua festival in 2018. Photo: Ho Phuong |
Attending the opening ceremony were comrade Phan Duc Dong - Member of the Standing Committee, Head of the Provincial Party Committee's Internal Affairs Committee, representatives of the Department of Culture and Sports. In addition, there were delegations from Tay Tra and Tra Bong districts (Quang Ngai), and Nhu Xuan (Thanh Hoa).
Hang Bua Festival is a long-standing cultural and spiritual activity of Muong Chieng Ngam, now in Chau Tien commune (Quy Chau). Tham Bua Cave, the main space of the festival, belongs to the Pha En mountain range, a part of the Northern Truong Son range. This is said to be the place that marks the love story of Khun Tinh, a legendary hero of the Thai people of Nghe An. The land is also the place that marks the achievements of the Lam Son insurgents in the 15th century and the General Lang Van Thiet during the resistance war against the French.
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| Muong Chieng Ngam Temple Ceremony, a ritual before the festival opening. Photo: Ho Phuong |
In 1996, the Hang Bua Festival was restored. In 1997, the Hang Bua relic was recognized as a National Cultural and Historical Relic by the Ministry of Culture and Information. Since then, the Hang Bua Festival has been organized annually by the local government and has attracted the attention of tourists from many localities.
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| A performance imbued with Thai culture at the opening day. Photo: Huu Vi |
On the opening day of Hang Bua Festival 2018, there was moderate rain in the area but it still attracted the attention of tourists from all over. Before the opening ceremony, a worship ceremony took place at Muong Chieng Ngam Temple.
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| Representatives of the Department of Culture and Sports of Nghe An province presented the Certificate of Provincial-level Cultural and Historical Relic for Muong Chieng Ngam Temple to the authorities of Quy Chau district. Photo: Ho Phuong |
Before that, on the evening of March 7, there was a special cultural program with performances imbued with the cultural identity of the Thai people in the Northwest of Nghe An province. Notably, the performance “Calling the Moon Fairy”, a folk game with spiritual colors was staged.
During the festival, there will be cultural and sports activities such as carving competitions, throwing balls, tug of war, pushing sticks, etc. In addition, there will be competitions in writing Thai characters and wine culture.
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| Representatives of Quy Chau district leaders beat the drum to open the festival. Photo: Huu Vi |
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| Bamboo dance performance on the opening day of the festival. Photo: Ho Phuong |
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| Volleyball match. Photo: Ho Phuong |
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| Thai culinary display at the Hang Bua festival in 2018. Photo: Huu Vi |
