To honour and preserve the Cong Chieng (gongs) culture of the Central Highlands, an invaluable cultural heritage of Vietnam, traditional festivals are being restored as a way to call the community to promote the cultural value of the Central Highland’s people. With sponsorship from the government and other authorities, the Daklak People’s Committee has held the Festival of Cong Chieng Culture 2007 at the center of Buon Ma Thuat city and Buon Don district.
The festival “Cong Chieng Culture 2007” of the Central Highlands has been organized from 21 to 24 November, 2007. “Rung Gia Night” is celebrated the first day of the festival, in which there is a lively scene of Dam San seeking for the Sun Goddess, in harmony with a symphony orchestra and twenty kinds of Cong Chieng instruments playing songs such as Vong xoang Jrai, Hajen len ray, Xon xang Cao Nguyen, Tieng Chuong tolangput, Mua Cao Nguyen, Di Tim Nu Than Mat Troi and Ngon Lua Cao Nguyen.
“Dem Huyen Dieu” is the title of the second festival day with many performances of conjurors and magic dances characterizing the Central Highland’s landscape. Also, the rice sacrificing festival of the Sedang people will feature the boisterous and impressive melodies of Cong Chieng instruments.
“Am Vang Tay Nguyen” is the third festival day with performances of many ensembles of Daklak, Dam San, other bands such as BaZan, Da Vang, The BamBo, and some artists of the Central Highlands like Ymoan, SiuBlack and Y Zak, singing famous songs about the Central Highlands, for example, Ly Ca Phe Ban Me, Thang Ba Tay Nguyen, Chuyen Tinh Thao Nguyen, Giac Mo Chapi and Bong Cay Co Nia.
“Bay Len Canh Chim Mat Troi” is the day of the Cong Chieng Culture festival 2007, depicting the uninterrupted growth of the Central Highlands and the Cong Chieng culture. The festival will be brought to an end, to be celebrated again in 2009.
In this event, there are also many activities including the production of ruou Can, a wine drunk out of a jar through pipes, folk instruments, and the reappearance of community festivals such as the Rain Praying festival of the Mnong people, Wedding of the Ma people, New Year Festival of the SeDang people, Season festivals and other traditional games of the Central Highlands.
In Buon Don, there are many exciting activities under the Cong Chieng Culture festival, such as the Duo of Love songs of the Sedang people in Kom Tum, Fire Praying festival of the Ede people in Buon Don, Rice Praying festival of the Bahnar people in Gia Lai, a prayer festival for elephant’s health, Elephant Hunting festival, Elephant Racing festival in Daklak and other traditional games.
In the festival, the Dak Lak province held a seminar titled “Space of the Cong Chieng culture - existence and solutions for preservation” with attendance of culture and information agencies from many provinces such as Dak Lak, Gia Lai, Kom Tum, Dak Nong, Lam Dong, Phu Yen and Khanh Hoa. Speeches on folk culture were made by representatives of UNESCO, scientists, specialists and researchers.
Huynh Duc- Dinh Hoi
Vietnamese
