The Long Tong (going to the field) festival opened in Dinh Hoa districtof northern Thai Nguyen province on February 28, or the tenth day ofthe first lunar month, drawing crowds of local ethnic people andvisitors from other localities.
Long Tong is thebiggest agricultural festival in Viet Bac region, which comprises sixprovinces of Bac Kan, Ha Giang, Tuyen Quang, Cao Bang, Lang Son, andThai Nguyen, with the ritual by the Tay ethnic group in Tuyen Quangbecoming part of the national intangible cultural heritage in 2013.
Local ethnic groups, including Tay, Dao and San Chay, offered trays oflocal specialities to gods to thank them for the bumper crops and toask for their blessings so local people can enjoy favourable weatherconditions and have a comfortable and happy life in the New Year.
A prestigious shaman is the first person to go offthe field to conduct the Long Tong ritual while a good elderly farmerand a strong buffalo are chosen to make the first furrow for the newcrop
During the festival,cultural and sport activities including stilt walking, shooting with abow and arrows, and “con” (cloth ball) throwing are organised as well.
Visitors to the event are also introduced to128 historical relic sites involving the resistance war against theFrench force (1946-1954) in the province.-VNA
Long Tong is thebiggest agricultural festival in Viet Bac region, which comprises sixprovinces of Bac Kan, Ha Giang, Tuyen Quang, Cao Bang, Lang Son, andThai Nguyen, with the ritual by the Tay ethnic group in Tuyen Quangbecoming part of the national intangible cultural heritage in 2013.
Local ethnic groups, including Tay, Dao and San Chay, offered trays oflocal specialities to gods to thank them for the bumper crops and toask for their blessings so local people can enjoy favourable weatherconditions and have a comfortable and happy life in the New Year.
A prestigious shaman is the first person to go offthe field to conduct the Long Tong ritual while a good elderly farmerand a strong buffalo are chosen to make the first furrow for the newcrop
During the festival,cultural and sport activities including stilt walking, shooting with abow and arrows, and “con” (cloth ball) throwing are organised as well.
Visitors to the event are also introduced to128 historical relic sites involving the resistance war against theFrench force (1946-1954) in the province.-VNA
