03:09, 18/09/2021

Preserving and promoting cultural values of ethnic minorities

Recently, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism issued a plan to continue to implement Resolution 24 of the Party Central Committee (IX term) on ethnic work in new situation. This is the basis for Khanh Hoa Province to continue to formulate policies to preserve and promote the cultural values of ethnic minorities.
 

Recently, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism issued a plan to continue to implement Resolution 24 of the Party Central Committee (IX term) on ethnic work in new situation. This is the basis for Khanh Hoa Province to continue to formulate policies to preserve and promote the cultural values of ethnic minorities.
 
People playing key role
 
For many years, Cao Van Nghiep (Ben Khe Hamlet, Khanh Binh Commune, Khanh Vinh District) has taught ma la (a traditional musical instrument) and other musical instruments of Raglai people to many young people in the commune. He has also often taken part in the annually-held public art festivals and ethnic groups' cultural days. Besides, he has encouraged young people in the locality to join and perform ethnic cultural characteristics at the art festivals and music programs.

 

Raglai people in Khanh Son District performing traditional musical instruments (Photo: taken in April 2021)
Raglai people in Khanh Son District performing traditional musical instruments (Photo: taken in April 2021)
 
Acknowledging the importance of preserving cultural activities in the locality, Y Hy, Ninh Tay Commune secretary of the Party Committee, has collected gong sets, jars, traditional musical instruments, labor tools, etc... of Ede people. He has often held music activities so that local people can play musical instruments.
 
Besides Cao Van Nghiep and Y Hy, there are many people in the province involving in preserving the beauty of ethnic traditional culture. These people have played an important role in preserving and promoting movement of cultural characteristics and traditions of ethnic minorities.  
 
Giving much attention to cultural preservation
 
Khanh Hoa has given appropriate attention and formulated many policies on preserving and promoting the values of cultural heritages of ethnic minorities. These elements have helped to preserve traditional cultural beauties and enrich spiritual life of locals. For example, Khanh Son District opened classes in ma la and epics; researched and collected materials and folk songs; compiled books about Raglai people and Raglai culture in the locality. The district also held ma la festivals, Raglai folk dance festivals, craft contest for village patriarchs, folk games, and so on. Meanwhile, Khanh Vinh District has focused on reviving cultural festivals such as wedding ceremony (Raglai, T’rin), tomb leaving ritual (Raglai, E De), new rice ceremony and new house ceremony (Raglai), and “còn” (a sacred ball) throwing festival (Tay people). Ninh Hoa Town has revived river wharf ritual of E De people.
 
Every year, the province organizes many cultural and art activities such as Vietnam Ethnic Group Cultural Day, festival of cultural villages, contest on cultural heritage, and public art festival, attracting active participation of many ethnic people. “Hundreds of sets of ma la, gongs, drums, jars, tools, etc. of ethnic people are being preserved in the houses of local people or traditional houses", said Le Van Hoa, deputy director of Khanh Hoa Provincial Department of Culture and Sports.
 
According to Hoa, the plan of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism aims to continue to strengthen leading, directing, and raising awareness and responsibility of the Party committees, authorities, cadres, civil servants and Party members in the political system at all levels for ethnic affairs in new situation. The localities in the province will base on the plan to implement policies on culture in ethnic minority areas with attention on preserving and promoting the values of culture of ethnic minorities. 
 
Giang Đinh
Translated by H.N