Nghe An: Many solutions for the 2021 festival season to take place safely

PV:So we have entered 2021, which means the festival season is about to begin. Could you tell us about Nghe An's festival plans this year?

Ms. Tran Thi My Hanh:Since the beginning of January, the Department of Culture and Sports has issued a Plan for organizing festivals in 2021 and assigned tasks to departments, offices and individuals to monitor the organization process in localities. Traditional festivals and cultural festivals in the province's management list have been included in the master plan.

Ms. Tran Thi My Hanh - Director of the Department of Culture and Sports. Photo: Duc Anh

There will be 29 festivals held during the year, including 20festivaltakes place in Spring (January - March of the Lunar calendar), the rest take place at other times of the year (April - October of the Lunar calendar). Pan Pang - Nang Ny Festival (Chau Cuong commune - Quy Hop) is the opening festival of 2021, held on February 16 and 17 (ie January 5 and 6 of the Lunar calendar); ending with Ong Hoang Muoi Temple Festival (Hung Thinh commune - Hung Nguyen) taking place on November 13 and 14 (ie October 9 and 10 of the Lunar calendar).

There will be 29 festivals held during the year, including 20 festivals taking place in Spring (January-March of the lunar calendar), the rest taking place at other times of the year (April-October of the lunar calendar). Photo: Sach Nguyen

According to the regulations on registration, notification and decentralization of festival management stipulated in Decree No. 110/2018/ND-CP, in 2021, traditional festivals will basically retain the same organization method, content, and traditional rituals associated with the customs and practices of each ethnic group, region, and area.

PV:Looking back at previous years, could you give your opinion on the management and organization of festivals in the province recently?

Ms. Tran Thi My Hanh:The management and organization of festivals in the province in recent years can be said to have strictly followed the provisions of the law. Basically, the festivals have taken place safely, healthily, and with strong cultural characteristics.traditional cultureof the Vietnamese people and Nghe An homeland. Therefore, it has met the spiritual needs of the people and tourists.

The Department of Culture has focused on directing, restoring, maintaining and promoting the historical and cultural values ​​and cultural beauty of traditional festivals. As mentioned above, Nghe An currently has 29 festivals included in the management list, in compliance with the regulations on civilized lifestyle according to Decree No. 110/2018/ND-CP dated August 29, 2018 of the Government.

Procession ritual at Con Temple Festival (Hoang Mai town). Photo: Sach Nguyen

There are 7 festival heritages recognized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism as National Intangible Cultural Heritage, including: Nine-Chamber Temple Festival, Con Temple Festival, Thanh Liet Temple Festival, Qua Son Temple Festival, Xang Khan Ritual, Ong Hoang Muoi Temple Festival and Bach Ma Temple Festival.

Along with folk festivals, cultural festivals "Drinking water, remember its source" to pay tribute to heroic martyrs, Sen Village Festival is associated with the anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh's birthday and village festivals, clan festivals, and the Ceremony to receive the Ranking Certificate.historical site, culture, cultural titles, folk rituals of ethnic minorities associated with customs and practices of ethnic groups have been restored and organized by the people, contributing to the development of cultural life at the grassroots level and festival culture in Nghe An.

PV:It can be said that in recent years, the management and organization of festivals have been receiving attention from localities and have gradually become more organized, and people's awareness of practicing civilized lifestyles during festivals is being raised. However, there will certainly be limitations. In your opinion, what limitations need to be overcome during this year's festival season?

Ms. Tran Thi My Hanh:Through monitoring and inspecting the management of festival organization in recent years, we have found some limitations that need to be overcome. These include the chaotic trading of goods and services, stalking of customers, begging, taking advantage of festivals for superstitious activities, and parking services at relics in some festivals that have not been properly planned.

Boat racing festival at Con Temple Festival (Hoang Mai town). Photo: Sach Nguyen

There is still a situation of burning votive paper, causing waste and waste; environmental sanitation is not guaranteed; waste collection is not timely, affecting the aesthetics. In particular, the strict compliance with legal regulations on civilized lifestyle during festivals and measures to prevent and control the Covid-19 epidemic at relics by a part of the people and tourists is not good, it is necessary to pay attention to and direct timely implementation...

PV:In early 2020, the Covid-19 epidemic began to spread in Vietnam, and spring festivals had to be temporarily suspended to respond to the epidemic. Up to now, the epidemic is basically under control, but that does not mean we can completely relax. So, in your opinion, what should we do to make the 2021 festivals both fun and safe, especially not letting the festival space become a point of spreading the Covid-19 epidemic?

Ms. Tran Thi My Hanh:This can be seen as a concern not only for the cultural sector but also for all levels of government and society as a whole. We are determined to carry out well the Prime Minister's direction on achieving the dual goal: both being ready to prevent and fight the epidemic and promoting socio-economic development.

At the same time, improve the efficiency and effectiveness of festival management and organization in 2021, especially traditional festivals in the early spring of Tan Suu. Therefore, the Department of Culture and Sports has focused on directing a number of key tasks, namely:

Firstly, the People's Committees of districts, cities, towns and communes, wards and towns with festival activities must continue to fully grasp and strictly implement the provisions of Decree No. 110/2018/ND-CP of the Government on festival management and organization; Directives and Official Dispatches of the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on epidemic prevention and control in cultural activities, festivals, and crowded public places. Reduce the scale and adjust the way festivals are organized, ensuring the conditions ondisease prevention

Cultural and artistic exchange activities at the Van Temple - Cua Rao Festival (Tuong Duong). Photo: Sach Nguyen

In case of a Covid-19 outbreak, complicated developments, and risk of infection in the community, based on the actual situation in localities with festivals, strictly implement measures to temporarily suspend the organization of festival activities according to the provisions of Article 8, Decree No. 110/2018/ND-CP of the Government on festival management and organization; Official Dispatch No. 1699/CD-TTg dated December 2, 2020 of the Prime Minister on strengthening the implementation of prevention and control.Covid-19 epidemic: “Continue to stop activities and events with large crowds when not necessary; if organized, must strictly implement epidemic prevention and control measures... in accordance with regulations”.

Second, strengthen propaganda, mobilization, and regular reminders to raise awareness and responsibility of all levels, sectors, people, and tourists to seriously implement State regulations on civilized lifestyle in festivals, disease prevention and control at relics and festivals. Propaganda and introduction of the origin of festivals, relics, values, and true meanings of traditional beliefs and rituals; rights and responsibilities of festival participants and activities at relics.

Gong performance at Hang Bua Festival (Quy Chau). Photo: Sach Nguyen

Do not let the organization of offering stars to dispel bad luck turn into profiteering services, encourage people to limit the burning of votive paper and gold, ensure safety, save money, and not show off. Organize plans for traffic order and safety, fire prevention and fighting, security, order, food safety and hygiene, and environmental sanitation.

Third, regularly update and monitor the epidemic situation, promptly provide full and accurate information to people and tourists; promote propaganda at festivals and relics about implementing measures to prevent and control Covid-19. On that basis, it will ensure that festivals take place happily, economically and safely, avoiding letting the festival space become a point of spreading Covid-19.

PV:Hopefully, with the above solutions and the high awareness of all classes of people, the festival season will be truly safe. As the director of the Department of Culture and Sports, can you share your thoughts before the 2021 festival season?

Ms. Tran Thi My Hanh:Festivals are community cultural activities, religious activities associated with folk rituals representing the historical and cultural values ​​of the nation, region, and area. My personal wish in particular and the cultural sector in general is that the 2021 festival season takes place safely, healthily, economically, effectively, and practically.

Culinary competition at Hang Bua Festival (Quy Chau). Photo: Sach Nguyen

At the same time, bring peace to each individual and the whole community, contributing to preserving and promotingcultural identitytradition of Nghe An homeland. From there, implementing the Movement "All people unite to build a cultural life" has achieved sustainable results. And like all the people and tourists coming to the festival, I pray for a year of favorable weather, bountiful harvests, prosperity and national peace...

PV:Thank you for this conversation!