Happy season on the golden land
(Baonghean.vn) When the dry season begins, the fields and gardens have been harvested, the high hills are covered with bright yellow wild sunflowers, and poinsettias are in full bloom, it is also the time when the festival season of Xieng Khouang plateau begins.
The first festival held in Xieng Khouang is Bun Tham Phiu in Muang Kham district (in Lao means Golden district), which takes place from November 22 to 26 every year, of which the 24th is the main festival. Bun Tham Phiu is held to commemorate and pay tribute to 374 people and soldiers of Vietnam and Laos who died on November 24, 1968, when the US Air Force fired rockets into the cave. To commemorate and denounce war crimes, Tham Phiu was built into a historical relic site and every five years Bun is held by the state and annually by the district and commune.
Lao Xung children go out to celebrate Tet
Throwing Con is not only a game but also a way to find a partner.
As usual, this year Bun Tham Phiu was also solemnly held. A week before the main ceremony, all preparations were completed. And a day before the ceremony, thousands of businesses from all over Xieng Khouang province came here to set up stalls to serve entertainment and trade; among them were many stalls of Nghe An people, even shop owners from within the country also came. On the occasion of the ceremony, tens of thousands of Lao people gathered here to participate in Bun activities, with high-ranking monks coming to perform the prayer ceremony. Everyone burned incense in remembrance, played sports, ate, drank, danced, and sang from morning to morning, from day to day. From young men and women to teenagers and even the elderly; from those with a lot of money to those with little money, everyone was immersed in the festival.
Sports competition between villages of Muang Kham district.
Mr. Mi Xay, Vice Chairman of Muang Kham district, said: The organization of this solemn festival is to convey and educate the younger generation not to forget the tradition and the pain and loss of the Lao and Vietnamese people during the war in a vivid and concrete way - thereby helping the Lao people to deeply understand and remember it forever. Trading activities in the Bun Tham Phiu area are encouraged by the district, thereby promoting commercial activities and increasing the purchasing power of the district...
The harvest is finished, the rice is in the warehouse, depending on each locality, each clan in Xieng Khouang province and Laos, from November 26 to December 26, Lao Xung people celebrate their Tet. After 3 days of not being allowed to go to the forest, not going anywhere, staying at home to worship their ancestors, Lao Xung people have nearly 1 month for relatives to visit each other, socialize as well as organize fun activities. Previously, these days, only Lao Xung people celebrated with Lao Xung people, but now the government and people of Lao tribes have also celebrated with Lao Xung people. Many villages have celebrated Tet together to strengthen and strengthen the bond between families.
During these Tet holidays, Lao Xung people solemnly organized games. Boys played Gu, girls played Con throwing, organized cockfights and buffalo fights. The sound of trumpets and music mixed with the sound of firecrackers. The season of fun lasted long, this was also the time when Lao Xung boys traveled from village to village to find their lover and get married.
In addition to the Bun, Xieng Khuang people often organize Khoan ceremonies - such as the season festival, 4, 5 villages come to celebrate one village, organize polishing, organize firecrackers to pray for favorable weather, good crops. Khoan ceremonies are often organized by villages in turn and sometimes only 2 villages hold Khoan ceremonies separately to hope that the sons and daughters of both sides who are traveling and socializing will become in-laws. Each family also often organize Khoan ceremonies such as: celebrating children who are good at studying, people who have just recovered from the hospital... On the Xieng Khuang plateau this year, the celebration seems to be bigger than last year, because the last crop was mostly bumper, some families harvested up to nearly 100 tons of corn and rice.
Thanh Chung
