Attending this important event were Deputy Prime Minister Mai Van Chinh; former Politburo member, former Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung; General Le Hong Anh, former Politburo member, former Standing member of the Secretariat; former Party Central Committee Secretary, former Vice President Truong My Hoa; former Party Central Committee member, former Vice President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh; and about 3,000 delegates from the Central, Ho Chi Minh City, Mekong Delta, people in the province, tourists, pilgrims...
Speaking at the ceremony, An Giang Provincial Party Secretary Le Hong Quang reviewed the process of building the nomination dossier for the Ba Chua Xu Festival on Sam Mountain (the Festival) to submit to UNESCO for recognition as a representative intangible cultural heritage of humanity.
The Secretary of the An Giang Provincial Party Committee stated that the event is the international community's recognition of the unique values of the Festival in terms of history, culture and spirituality. This is the 16th intangible cultural heritage of Vietnam, the second intangible cultural heritage of the Southern region (along with the art of Don ca tai tu) to be recognized by UNESCO. Above all, this is the first traditional festival of the Mekong Delta to receive this honor; contributing to affirming the diversity, value and identity of Vietnamese culture in the common cultural picture of humanity.
For the Party Committee, government and people of An Giang province, this is a priceless reward, affirming the integrity, authenticity and outstanding global value of the heritage; helping the heritage-owning community to be more fully aware of the value of the Festival in the nation's intangible cultural heritage. Thereby enhancing pride, sense of responsibility, and aiming at practical measures to preserve and promote the value of the heritage.
On behalf of the provincial leaders, Secretary of the An Giang Provincial Party Committee Le Hong Quang expressed his deep gratitude to the leaders of the Party, State, Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO, Ho Chi Minh City University of Culture, researchers and scientists who have accompanied the Party Committee and authorities of An Giang province and Chau Doc city in the process of building and protecting the Heritage dossier. In particular, he expressed his gratitude to the people of Chau Doc in particular and the people of An Giang in general - those who have, are and will continue to preserve, practice and spread this sacred and noble cultural value.
At the ceremony, Mr. Jonathan Wallace Baker, Chief Representative of UNESCO in Vietnam, affirmed that this recognition is not only a tribute to the rich cultural heritage of Vietnam, but also reaffirms the essential role of heritages in building cultural identity and promoting social cohesion, while also contributing to enhancing intercultural dialogue.
UNESCO representative emphasized that intangible cultural heritage expressed in rituals, festivals, artistic performances, social practices and traditional knowledge is the lifeblood of the community, passed down from generation to generation, shaped by the collective experience and creativity of the custodians and continuously recreated to maintain relevance in an ever-changing world.
Therefore, with this inscription, the Ba Chua Xu Festival on Sam Mountain has joined the list of the most outstanding heritages, reflecting the diversity and vitality of human cultural expressions. The festival is held annually to express the spiritual values of the Kinh, Cham, Khmer and Chinese ethnic communities in Chau Doc City and throughout the Mekong Delta.
According to the Organizing Committee, the Ba Chua Xu Festival at Sam Mountain is one of the biggest and most important festivals of the people of the South. This is an opportunity for people to express their respect and gratitude to Ba Chua Xu, the goddess who is believed to bring peace, luck and fortune.
The festival not only carries deep cultural and religious values, but also demonstrates the intermingling of cultures in the region. In 2001, the festival was recognized as a national festival by the Ministry of Culture and Information (now the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism). In 2014, the festival was included in the list of national intangible cultural heritage by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. In 2023, the festival was honored as "Asia-Pacific Outstanding Cultural Activity".
On December 4, 2024, at the 19th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of UNESCO held in the Republic of Paraguay, the Festival of Ba Chua Xu of Sam Mountain in Vietnam was officially recognized by UNESCO as a representative Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
The fact that the Ba Chua Xu Festival in Sam Mountain, An Giang, was recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity is a strong testament to the integrity, authenticity and outstanding international value of this unique heritage.
This event is of special significance in promoting and introducing the typical and unique cultural values of the land and people of An Giang to domestic and international friends. The fact that the heritage is honored further contributes to affirming the diversity, richness and value of Vietnamese national culture in the process of development and integration with the world.
The Via Ba Chua Xu festival in Sam mountain has been preserved and practiced for many generations in Chau Doc, bearing the cultural identity of the residents of the Southwest region and the spiritual cultural activities of local residents with a high sense of community. At the same time, it demonstrates the identity and continuity of the Vietnamese community in the process of cultural exchange with the Khmer, Chinese, Cham ethnic communities...
Accordingly, each year An Giang province welcomes more than 8 million visitors, Chau Doc city alone welcomes more than 5 million visitors coming to make pilgrimages and visit scenic spots such as Ba Chua Xu Temple on Sam Mountain, Thoai Ngoc Hau tomb complex, Hang Pagoda, Tay An Pagoda...
Source: https://baoninhthuan.com.vn/news/152257p1c29/thiet-thuc-bao-ton-va-phat-huy-le-hoi-via-ba-chua-xu-nui-sam-duoc-unesco-ghi-danh.htm
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