Strengthening the management and organization of festivals in early spring

Land rich in unique cultural festivals

Ninh Binh is a land rich in unique cultural festivals. According to statistical reports, there are 243 festivals in the province, including 242 traditional festivals and 1 cultural festival. In particular, Ninh Binh has 2 festivals recognized as national intangible cultural heritages: Hoa Lu Festival and Binh Hai Village Festival.

The Department of Culture and Sports is continuing to complete the scientific dossier for the Non Khe Newspaper Festival (Yen Tu commune, Yen Mo district) to submit to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism for inclusion in the list of national intangible cultural heritages at the request of the Department of Cultural Heritage; is building a dossier to propose inclusion in the list of national intangible cultural heritages for the Nguyen Saint Temple Festival (Gia Thang and Gia Tien communes, Gia Vien district), and the Luc Giap Communal House Sticky Rice Cake Festival (Yen Thanh commune, Yen Mo district).

Festivals in the province are mainly village festivals on a small scale, concentrated in early spring, held for a short time, attracting the participation mainly of people in villages, hamlets, communes, wards and towns where there are relics and festivals.

Some festivals such as Hoa Lu Festival, Trang An Festival, Bao Ban Festival, Bai Dinh Pagoda Festival, Duc Thanh Nguyen Temple Festival, Nguyen Cong Tru Temple Festival... regularly attract a large number of visitors and worshippers. This is a favorable condition for tourism development.

In recent years, spiritual tourism with various types of cultural beliefs and festivals has been increasingly developing, reflecting the right direction of investment and development, taking the exploitation of cultural heritage resources to serve economic development.

According to the assessment of the management agency, festivals in the province are organized with many rich activities, with the active participation of the people. The festival organizing committee and the relic management board have proactively registered or announced the organization of the festival in accordance with the provisions of Decree No. 110/2018/ND-CP of the Government and closely coordinated with local agencies and organizations. The festival's rituals took place solemnly, preserving traditional features. The festival part has a harmonious combination of traditional and modern cultural, artistic and sports activities with a variety of forms, associated with regional characteristics such as: Xam singing, Cheo singing, Chau Van singing, Ca Tru singing, drum dancing, gong singing, bamboo pole dancing... The festival activities are organized in a smooth connection with the rituals of the ceremony, creating a joyful and healthy atmosphere in the festival space, contributing to creating a good traditional festival cultural environment, the unique culture of the people and the land of the ancient capital. From the activities of the festivals and the active participation of the people, it also shows that the cultural, historical and revolutionary traditions of the nation in the province are actively preserved and promoted by all levels, sectors and the people.

Strictly implement regulations on festival management and organization.

Ninh Binh is one of the localities that has done a good job in managing and organizing festivals. Implementing Directive No. 13-CT/TU dated March 16, 2012 of the Ninh Binh Provincial Party Committee on "Strengthening the Party's leadership in organizing and managing festivals in Ninh Binh province"; Decision No. 05/2021/QD-UBND dated March 11, 2021 of the Provincial People's Committee on promulgating regulations on implementing civilized lifestyles in weddings, funerals and festivals in Ninh Binh province, every year the Provincial People's Committee issues documents directing the strengthening of festival management and organization; districts and cities have documents directing the strengthening of festival management and organization.

The Department of Culture and Sports has established inspection teams to inspect the management and organization of festivals before, during and after the Lunar New Year. In 2023, 23 relics, places of worship and festivals in 8 districts and cities were inspected. Through inspection, basically, the Festival Organizing Committees and Relic Management Boards have complied well with the regulations on festival management and organization.

Through the inspection work, the awareness and responsibility of all levels, sectors, people and tourists on the strict implementation of State regulations on festival management and organization have been raised. At the same time, the cultural values of the relics, the significance of the festival and the characters worshiped have been promoted; the good customs and practices of the nation; advanced models and examples in festival organization have been promoted... Thereby creating positive changes in the awareness and actions of each cadre, party member and people in organizing, managing and participating in festivals.

During the years affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, the organization of festivals was temporarily suspended due to the requirements of epidemic prevention and control. When the epidemic situation was under control, festivals in the province continued to be organized with many diverse activities, attracting the active participation of the people. Festivals organized in the province all developed plans, had solutions to ensure security and order, traffic safety, fire prevention and fighting, environmental sanitation, especially complying with regulations on civilized lifestyle during festivals. Limit the use of the State budget, promote the socialization of resources in organizing festivals; practice thrift, and combat waste.

To ensure that festival activities in 2024 and the Lunar New Year of Giap Thin take place in a civilized, safe manner, in accordance with traditional customs and traditions, meeting the cultural enjoyment needs of the people; promoting the value and significance of the festival; at the same time, promoting the potential, strengths, unique cultural features, famous landscapes of Ninh Binh land and people, the Provincial People's Committee has just issued Official Dispatch No. 21/UBND-VP6 requesting departments, branches, sectors, unions of the province, districts and cities to strengthen the management of festivals in accordance with the provisions of law, especially implementing a civilized lifestyle in weddings, funerals and festivals in the province.

Strengthen propaganda and mobilization work for people to implement the policies and guidelines of the Party and State, legal regulations on festival management and organization, and practice civilized lifestyle in festivals; propagate and introduce the origin of cultural and historical values of festivals, relics and figures worshiped and honored. At the same time, focus on directing the effective implementation of inspection and examination of compliance with regulations on festival management and organization, other relevant legal regulations; promptly detect and strictly handle violations. Well implement the work of ensuring security and order, traffic safety, fire prevention and fighting, environmental sanitation, food safety, disease prevention and fighting in festival areas.

Ninh Binh province also requires cadres, civil servants, public employees and workers to strictly implement the regulations of the Central Government and the province on festival management and organization; on implementing a civilized lifestyle during festivals; not going to pagodas or festivals during working hours if not assigned, not participating in superstitious activities, not using the State budget, means and public assets against regulations for festival activities. Promote the responsibility of setting an example for cadres and party members, especially the heads of Party committees, agencies and units.

Phan Hieu

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