Gau Tao Festival of the H'Mong people in Yen Bai becomes a National Intangible Cultural Heritage

H'Mong flute performance at the festival. (Photo: THANH SON)

Previously, on the evening of February 14, Yen Bai province held a ceremony to announce the Decision and award the National Intangible Cultural Heritage Certificate for the Gau Tao Festival of the H'Mong people in Tram Tau, Mu Cang Chai and Van Chan districts (Yen Bai province); and awarded the Certificate of Heritage Tree recognition to the People's Committee of Tram Tau district.

Yen Bai province receives National Intangible Cultural Heritage Certificate. (Photo: THANH SON)

Deputy Director of the Department of Cultural Heritage Nong Quoc Thanh, authorized by the leaders of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, presented the Certificate to the representative of the heritage community of the three districts of Tram Tau, Mu Cang Chai and Van Chan.

The Vietnam Association for Conservation of Nature and Environment announced and awarded the Decision and Certificate of Heritage Tree recognition to the People's Committee of Tram Tau district for the population of Du Sam trees in Tram Tau town and Xa Ho commune.

Village elder Giang A Su, holding a rooster, is the master of ceremonies at the festival. (Photo: THANH SON)

Chairman of Tram Tau District People's Committee Vu Le Chung Anh said that Tram Tau is a western district of Yen Bai; a land rich in revolutionary traditions, a place where the unique cultural features of ethnic groups converge. Of which, the H'Mong ethnic group accounts for more than 79%, living in 10 highland communes with traditional cultural heritages imbued with humanistic values.

Up to now, the whole district has 4 relics and heritages ranked at provincial and national levels.

For the Hmong, one of the typical beauties, expressing unique spirituality and beliefs is the Gau Tao Festival. This is a typical festival expressing the cultural traditions of the Hmong people that have existed for a long time, maintained and preserved by the people.

The festival usually takes place at the beginning of the new year with the concept of fertility and growth. In the Gau Tao Festival, the pole is the main symbol, associated with sacredness. The H'Mong people believe that the number 4 represents 4 gods: the god of heaven, the god of earth, the god of river and the god of mountain.

A Khen dance at the festival. (Photo: THANH SON)

"Gầu Táo" in Vietnamese means a ceremony to thank heaven and earth, and the gods for blessing the family, clan, village, and people with health, prosperity, freedom from illness, peace, and happiness; praying for the villagers to be well-off, for fields full of rice, bountiful harvests, and for barns full of livestock and poultry.

Gau Tao Festival is a place to connect people's feelings, an opportunity for children far from home to reunite with their families, villages, and hamlets, and a space for healthy entertainment and recreation after months of hard work.

The flagpole is a symbol of the festival. (Photo: THANH SON)

On the morning of February 15, a series of cultural, sports and tourism activities took place, including: the colorful Tram Tau art program; a performance of the H'Mong Khen dance by 500 students; a reenactment of the Gau Tao Festival, a rice cake pounding competition, throwing con, throwing pao, spinning tops, etc.