The traditional festival of Xa Ma - the palanquin procession of the cultural identity of the coastal region has a history of more than 300 years, is a national intangible cultural heritage held annually at the historical and cultural relic site of Hoang Chau Communal House (Cat Hai district). Xa Ma (pulling wooden horses - war horses, large bodies, with reins, flower bibs, and collars with bells) each group has 12-15 people in neat costumes pulling Xa Ma, recreating the training and drills of soldiers in ancient times. The sound of gongs and drums is intense. When the sacred palanquins carried by young men and women to the Communal House yard suddenly run like flying on the Communal House yard and move aimlessly around the village like a divine manifestation. A bustling festival atmosphere, martial spirit, rich in folk identity.
These typical cultural features at the Festival will be introduced to you by Vietnam.vn through the photo series “Unique Xa Ma Festival with Flying Palanquin Procession” by author Pham Thanh. Through that, you will understand better why the traditional Xa Ma Festival – Palanquin Procession is one of 12 national intangible cultural heritages preserved because of its unique cultural values, typical of the life of residents in the Northern coastal region. The photo series was submitted by the author to the Photo and Video Contest of Happy Vietnam – Happy Vietnam, organized by the Ministry of Information and Communications.
The Xa Ma-Ruoc Kieu Festival is a unique and special traditional cultural feature that only exists in Hoang Chau, Hai Phong. To prepare for the festival, from the beginning of May, Hoang Chau organized village and commune meetings to elect committees and assign tasks to prepare for the festival. The festival part is the procession of the palanquin and xa ma. The palanquin procession is an activity imbued with unique spiritual beliefs. The male and female officials participating in the palanquin procession at the village festival must be unmarried; their families have no funerals.
According to regulations, participants in the ceremonial team must be dignitaries in the village, pure, of good moral character, and from a warm and harmonious family. Participants in the horse-drawn carriage and palanquin processions must also be healthy, pure young men and women.
Young girls carry palanquins around the communal house.
After the ceremony, the palanquin will be carried around the communal house by the people.
The competition has two teams participating, the East and the West. The Xa Ma are two wooden carriages with sturdy frames that can move and maneuver. Each carriage has four wooden wheels. On the carriage are wooden war horses with large, sturdy bodies, with reins, flowered bibs, and bells around their necks. Each team has from 12 to 15 participants, with neat costumes according to the village festival regulations. The members of the two teams wear neat costumes, tight pants, and yellow or red axe-head scarves to distinguish themselves from each other.
The girls participating in the Festival are carefully selected.
Chariot Armor.
The Xa Ma Festival - Palanquin Procession is not only a unique cultural beauty of coastal fishermen but also has the effect of preserving the long-standing cultural values of our ancestors, an opportunity to educate about traditions and love for the homeland and country; strengthen solidarity in the village community in socio-economic development, contributing to protecting the beloved sea and islands of the Fatherland.
In 2024, the Photo and Video Contest "Happy Vietnam - Happy Vietnam" continues to be organized by the Ministry of Information and Communications in coordination with the Vietnam Association of Photographic Artists on the website https://happy.vietnam.vn for all Vietnamese citizens and foreigners aged 15 and over. The contest aims to honor individuals and groups with positive information products, making practical contributions to the propaganda and promotion of beautiful images of Vietnam to the world. Thereby helping people in the country, compatriots abroad and international friends access authentic images of the country, Vietnamese people, Vietnam's achievements in ensuring human rights, towards a happy Vietnam.
Each contest category (photo and video) has the following prizes and prize values:
– 01 Gold Medal: 70,000,000 VND
– 02 Silver Medals: 20,000,000 VND
– 03 Bronze Medals: 10,000,000 VND
– 10 Consolation prizes: 5,000,000 VND
– 01 most voted work: 5,000,000 VND
The winning authors will be invited by the Organizing Committee to attend the announcement ceremony and award prizes and certificates on live television broadcast of Vietnam Television.
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