Preserving and promoting the traditional culture of the Dao ethnic group in Muong Lat

Muong Lat district has more than 860 Dao people living in the villages of Suoi Tut, Con Dao (Quang Chieu), Pu Quan, Ha Son (Pu Nhi). The development of the market economy has caused many traditional cultural features of the Dao people to gradually fade away. With the attention of local authorities, the cultural identity of the Dao people in Muong Lat district is being preserved and promoted day by day.

Preserving and promoting the traditional culture of the Dao ethnic group in Muong Lat Teachers at Muong Lat Secondary School for Ethnic Minorities Boarding School and Dao ethnic students discuss traditional cultural identity.

To achieve the above results, every year Muong Lat district directs communes where Dao ethnic people live to promote propaganda to raise people's awareness of the traditional cultural values of the Dao ethnic group; establish cultural and artistic clubs. At the same time, coordinate with functional units and artisans to teach Han Nom Dao to Dao ethnic people. From 2019 to present, Muong Lat district has opened 8 classes to teach Han Nom Dao with 246 students participating. After studying, students actively taught to family members and people in the village.

Currently, the villages where Dao people live have established 4 cultural and artistic clubs. These clubs have actively passed on folk songs and dances to the younger generation. The number of people who can read and write Han Nom Dao script is increasing. In particular, the number of young Dao women who can embroider traditional costumes is increasing.

In Quang Chieu commune, the local Party Committee and government always pay attention to preserving and promoting the traditional values of the Dao ethnic group. Every year, the commune proactively develops and implements a plan to propagate and mobilize people to preserve traditional cultural values. Thanks to good propaganda work, traditional cultural forms, games and performances of the Dao ethnic group are promoted in the community, meeting the entertainment needs of the people.

Vice Chairman of Quang Chieu Commune People's Committee Vi Van Thu said: The commune has 2 Dao ethnic villages. Although life is still difficult, people are always interested in preserving and promoting the identity of their ethnic group. Along with the Dao language used for daily communication, costumes used in holidays, Tet, and local events, people also actively participate in learning embroidery and learning Han Nom Dao script. In the coming time, the commune will coordinate with functional agencies to open classes to teach Han Nom Dao script; use funding from Project 6, the National Target Program on socio-economic development of ethnic minorities and mountainous areas in the period of 2021-2030 to preserve and promote the traditional cultural values of ethnic minorities in general and the Dao ethnic group in particular.

Deputy Head of the Department of Culture and Information of Muong Lat district, Lo Van Tuan, said: “To preserve and promote the traditional cultural values of the Dao ethnic group, in the coming time, the district will mobilize all resources to invest in building and improving cultural and sports facilities to serve the daily needs of the Dao ethnic community. Mobilize artisans who understand Dao ethnic culture to collect and teach traditional cultural values to the younger generation.”

Article and photos: Xuan Anh

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