Happy spring planting competition

(Baonghean) - On the occasion of the beginning of Spring, we went to Muong Qua (Con Cuong) to enjoy the Spring planting competition of the local farmers. The light drizzle was a sign that the weather would be favorable for a bumper harvest season, bringing prosperity to the village...

Early in the morning, passing Bu Ong slope, entering Muong Qua land, we heard the bustling sound of gongs and cymbals resounding from the villages. That was the signal to encourage the members of the planting competition team to prepare mentally to achieve the best results, and to urge other members of the village community to go to the fields to cheer for their team. The spring planting competition was held in Xang village, Luc Da commune. The village is located at the source of Moi stream, one of the main water sources for irrigating the immense Muong Qua fields.

Rice planting competition in Luc Da commune (Con Cuong).

In the distance, Xang village appeared with its rows of green trees, pretty stilt houses covered in moss and red flags with yellow stars fluttering. The flow of people to the village grew more and more, not only the villagers, but also people from Moi, Tan Hop, Luc Son, Hong Son and many other villages came in large numbers to cheer on the competition.

Coming closer, we could hear more clearly the resounding sound of gongs and the smooth, soulful Thai folk songs. Clearly, this was the real atmosphere of a festival, because everyone's faces were filled with joy and excitement, the usually quiet village was now filled with songs and laughter.

The opening ceremony of the 2015 Spring Rice Planting Competition of Luc Da commune was held at the Xang village Community Cultural House. First were the performances imbued with the identity of the Thai ethnic group, cheerful songs and dances expressing the wish for favorable weather and wind, for the rice plants to grow well and for the granaries to be full.

Next, the Organizing Committee announced the purpose and significance of the competition, thereby popularizing the techniques of planting and caring for spring rice according to the crop calendar, a factor that ensures a successful crop. According to the rules, each village will nominate 10 outstanding members to participate in the competition team, each team will be assigned a field of equal area, the field has been carefully prepared, ensuring mud and aeration. Within the prescribed time, the team that finishes first will get a high score. However, in addition to the requirement of fast planting, the Organizing Committee also sets out the requirements of planting evenly, beautifully, in straight lines and at the right density. Therefore, the proficiency and smoothness in coordination between members plays an important role, deciding the success or failure of the whole team.

On the banks of the fields, the pots of bright green rice seedlings were already arranged. In the fields, the team members were also ready, just waiting for the drum to signal the start of the planting competition. When the drum sounded, everyone got to work, trying their best to plant quickly, evenly, in straight lines and at the right density. The Thai Muong Qua women joined the planting festival as if they were performing a traditional dance; the way they arranged themselves in rows, moved and coordinated well, regularly creating a common rhythm that was quite rhythmic and flexible.

On the banks of the fields, the number of people coming to watch gradually increased, including old people carrying their grandchildren, young mothers with their children, and even young girls... In particular, the elders of Xang village brought drums and gongs to cheer for their children and grandchildren. While beating drums and gongs, the elders danced the Lam Vong dance and sang throughout. Rice transplanting is no longer simply a step in the process of wet rice production but has become a cultural feature, a meaningful festival of Muong Qua residents. Through it, they convey many aspirations about life.

Mrs. Lo Thi Kham (82 years old) shared: "When I was young, every year I participated in the rice planting competition, it was so much fun! Today, watching my grandchildren compete in the rice planting competition, I remember decades ago, when I was not married yet, when life was still difficult..."

Perhaps, hundreds of years ago, when the Thai community from the Northwest of the Fatherland migrated to the Western region of Nghe An, crossed the Bu Ong slope to settle in Muong Qua, they began to have a rice planting competition, called the Going to the Field Festival (Long Tong). Because the Muong Qua valley is quite flat, with many rivers and streams, it is very favorable for cultivating wet rice - one of the strengths of the Thai people.

Over many generations, the Muong Qua people have built dams, built banks, dug irrigation canals and formed a vast, fertile field, becoming the main rice granary of Con Cuong district. The fields and rice plants have brought the Muong Qua people a prosperous life and a prosperous village. Therefore, for them, the day of going to the fields and planting is also a festival day, a day of joy and hope.

Tuong Anh