The Pa Then people believe that “all things have souls,” meaning that everything has a soul and spirit. The gods of the forest, mountains, rivers, and fire… rule over the realms.
Among them, the fire god is the most sacred and supreme god, always protecting, bringing strength and luck to the village and the people. The fire dancing festival takes place at the end of the year and the beginning of the new year, after the harvest. This is an occasion for people to thank heaven and earth, the gods and ancestors for helping them have a year of prosperity, peace and luck.
The festival also took place at the time when the northern mountainous provinces were resplendent with a myriad of spring flowers. From Tuyen Quang city, on the way to Lam Binh district, I was able to admire the plum and peach blossoms in full bloom, especially at the bend at Khau Lac pass (locals said the name of the pass means swaying) with mountains on one side and flowers on the other.
Arriving at the capital of Lam Binh district - Lang Can commune, Ban Khien and Nam Dip villages, I was very surprised by the festival space. It was a stage designed from bamboo: bamboo poles, railings, stage floor, water wheels (a tool to bring water from the stream to higher fields of the Tay - Nung people) and 2 "máng ngon" (a means for people to walk on the stream).
Palm leaves, brocade weaving frames, panpipes (a famous musical instrument of the Mong people), and con balls (like balls sewn from cotton and cotton seeds) are beautifully decorated to be thrown during the Long Tong festival (going down to the fields). The large brocades of the Tay, Dao, Mong, and Pa Then people are exquisite and colorful.
The stage backdrop is even more impressive with white cliffs and hanging stalactites forming a natural relief, surrounded by primeval forest trees. I secretly admire the awareness of conservation and ecological preservation of the ethnic communities in this land.
In the middle of the stage, there is a large cave, which the locals introduce as Tham Pau Cave, belonging to Tham Pau Mountain. The story of the cave is associated with the legend of a fairy who, out of sympathy and love for the people here, taught the people the craft of growing cotton and weaving brocade. Inside the cave, there are traces of a brocade weaving frame. I was silent, thinking about that trace, about the reliefs of creation, about the primeval forest and all the traditional cultural features converging here.
The crowd of people excitedly flocked to the fire dancing festival. The Pa Then ethnic youth joined in the brilliant fire dancing, creating a lively and powerful atmosphere. The fire was as big as a house, arranged from large, long pieces of firewood. The fire lit up and the wood crackled. The young men jumped into the fire amid loud cheers. My heart pounded every time they jumped into the fire and then somersaulted like a magic show. Outside, the shaman kept tapping on the dirty table - a sacrificial object that makes a sound believed to connect with the fire god.
Heritage Magazine
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