Festival of ethnic minority groups in Northwestern region kick-started

At the opening ceremony of the festival

The festival is jointly organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism and the people’s committees of Phu Tho, Hoa Binh, Dien Bien, Lai Chau, Lao Cai, Yen Bai, and Son La provinces.

Themed “Cultural colors of ethnic minority groups in Northwestern region,” the festival gathers a large number of artisans, artists, actors, and athletes.

They will participate in a wide range of interesting activities during the festival, such as performing and introducing festivals and cultural rituals of ethnic minority groups; exhibiting and popularizing cultural and tourist products, land, people and socio-economic achievements of the localities and traditional local cuisine. They will join artistic performances and ethnic minority groups’ traditional costumes shows.

As part of the three-day festival, traditional games, such as tug of war, crossbow shooting, stick pushing, con-throwing, and cross-country running will be held.

In the framework of the festival, excerpts of festivals and cultural rituals of Northwestern provinces were recaptured in the morning in Phu Tho province.

Below are several photos of the cultural colors of the Northwestern region of Vietnam.

The shaman performs the ritual to drive away evil spirits – an excerpt from the Xek pang A festival of the Khang ethnic minority group in Chieng On commune, Quynh Nhai district, Son La province.

Part of the excerpt of the Xek pang A festival of the Khang ethnic minority group in Chieng On commune, Quynh Nhai district, Son La province

Part of the excerpt of a ritual praying for rain of the Kho Mu ethnic minority group in Dien Bien province

Washing hands before the rain-praying ritual starts

Dancing to pray for good weather for bumper crops

The ritual of pouring rice into the pot, an excerpt of the Kin khau may festival of the Lu ethnic minority group in Ban Hon commune, Tam Duong district, Lai Chau province

People dance in the excerpt of the Kin khau may festival of the Lu ethnic minority group in Ban Hon commune, Tam Duong district, Lai Chau province.

Making green rice flakes – an excerpt of the Then ritual of Lao Cai province

Part of the Then ritual of Lao Cai province

Reappearing the ritual “Opening the forest’s entrance” of Phu Tho province

Catching a wild animal, part of the ritual “Opening the forest’s entrance” of Phu Tho province

Ethnic minority people perform the offerings to the forest spirits.

Translated by Mai Huong