Tay Ethnic Festival Receives Recognition

The Government has recognized an ethnic Tay festival that celebrates farming as an example of national intangible heritage.Official recognition of the “Going to the Field” festival was made in the northern province of Tuyen Quang yesterday, following a worship ceremony at Pu Bao Temple, a holy place for the local ethnic Tay group in Lam Binh District.The ceremony was held to praise the gods and wish for a prosperous year, favorable weather and bumper crops.Deputy culture minister Dang Thi Bich Lien handed over a certificate of recognition to representatives of local authorities at the event.A dance by 400 local high-school students then opened the festivities, which included folk “then” singing and traditional games.“Long tong” in the Tay language means “going to the field”, and the tradition has been continued across generations of local people. It is a chance for local farming families to express their gratitude to the gods and their ancestors, who helped ensure wealth, healthiness and happiness.Last Sunday, the same ceremony was held by local authorities to receive recognition of ethnic Tay “then” singing as an intangible national heritage.According to statistics from 2009, the Tay ethnic group is the second largest in the country after the majority Kinh, with more than 1.6 million people. They are scattered throughout the nation and are concentrated in the northern mountainous areas. Lang Son, Cao Bang and Tuyen Quang provinces are home to the largest Tay populations. (Vietnam News Feb 22)