The second national cultural festival of the Dao ethnic people will re-enact many traditional rituals. VNA/VNS Photo Hữu Quyết

THÁI NGUYÊN The second national cultural festival of the Dao ethnic people will take place in the northern province of Thái Nguyên from October 6-8, featuring many art programmes that showcase the spiritual and cultural life of the Dao people.

The festival will gather nearly 2,000 Dao artisans, artists, actors and athletes from 14 provinces, including Thái Nguyên, Bắc Giang, Bắc Kạn and Cao Bằng. They will jointly re-enact many traditional rituals of the Dao, such as the sacred forest worship ceremony, cấp sắc ritual (a rite of passage declaring the coming-of-age of Dao men within the community), wedding ceremonies and dancing festivals.

The opening ceremony will take place in Võ Nguyên Giáp Square in Thái Nguyên City on October 6 and will be aired live on various TV and radio channels.

According to the Director of the Department of Ethnic Culture under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Nguyễn Thị Hải Nhung, the festival aims to honour the traditional cultural values, preserve and promote the cultural identity of the Dao people in the unified and diverse culture of the 54 ethnic groups in Việt Nam.

“This is also an opportunity to introduce, promote and stimulate tourism; create a cultural space for artisans, actors and athletes to meet and exchange experiences, and raise awareness in preserving and promoting traditional cultural values of the Dao in the period of integration and development,” the director said.

Many other activities that will be held at the festival include a photo exhibition showcasing Dao culture, performances of traditional national costumes, and an introduction to Dao cuisine and sports competitions.

Another festival that spotlights traditional costumes of Việt Nam’s ethnic minorities in the north will be held at the Vietnam National Village for Ethnic Culture and Tourism in Sơn Tây Town on the outskirts of Hà Nội.

The festival, the first of its kind, aims to concretise policies of the Party and State on the conservation and promotion of ethnic minority cultures and to honour such traditional cultural values.

The event will also offer an opportunity for ethnic artisans and artists to exchange experiences, learn from one another, and for their communities to popularise their traditional culture to domestic and international visitors.

Themed ‘The colours of northern ethnic traditional costumes amid integration and development era’, it will gather representatives of 17 provinces and cities in the region, including Hà Nội, Vĩnh Phúc, Phú Thọ, Hòa Bình, Sơn La, Yên Bái and Lào Cai.

It is expected to feature a meeting with artisans and people who have contributed significantly to preserving ethnic culture, a seminar, a fashion show, and several exhibitions, among other activities.

Việt Nam is home to 54 ethnic groups, each with its unique cultural identity. VNS