What makes the Wind Abstinence Festival an intangible cultural heritage?

Village preservation customs

Binh Lieu district is a mountainous, border district of Quang Ninh province, consisting of many ethnic communities living together such as Tay, Dao, San Chi... In which, the Dao people in Binh Lieu include two branches: Dao Thanh Phan and Dao Thanh Y, in which the Dao Thanh Phan people mainly reside in Dong Van commune.

Dao Thanh Phan women prepare their costumes to attend the Wind Abstinence Festival. Photo: Bui My

To this day, the Dao people in Binh Lieu still preserve their own language, costumes, customs, practices and festivals, contributing to creating a Binh Lieu with diverse cultural colors. One of those unique cultural features is the wind-avoiding custom of the Dao Thanh Phan people.

In the long-standing custom of the Dao Thanh Phan people in Binh Lieu, the Wind Abstinence custom only takes place on one day only, which is the 4th day of the 4th lunar month.

According to legend, since ancient times, humans and animals have lived together in the great forest. The Dao Thanh Phan people in Binh Lieu knew how to cultivate and farm, but their crops were always destroyed by wild animals, and their livestock were often hunted by wild animals, making life extremely difficult.

Not accepting the destruction, the Dao Thanh Phan people gathered and set up an altar to pray to the local god - the god who governs the mountains and forests. Moved by their sincerity, the god appeared and gave them this advice: "Every animal has its own soul and strength. If you know how to respect and follow the laws of nature, you will live in harmony with all other species."

Since then, the Dao Thanh Phan people built a temple to worship the forest god, and annually held ceremonies to pray for a bountiful harvest and healthy livestock. And according to the god's instructions, they set up taboo days, each day corresponding to an animal or natural phenomenon.

On the day of the Tiger, avoid tigers because they are the king of the jungle, so no one goes into the forest on this day. On the day of the Cat, avoid foxes because they are cunning and can easily cause disaster. On the first day of the second lunar month, avoid the red-crowned pigeon - a small bird that brings an omen of weather changes. On the first day of the third lunar month, avoid the god of lightning, so no one cuts down trees or destroys forests. On the third day of the third lunar month, avoid wild boars, so no one hunts or touches these animals.

Dao Thanh Phan people chat, laugh and shop at the Hoi Kien Gio market. Photo: Bui My

And on the 4th day of the 4th lunar month, avoid the wind. On this day, the Dao Thanh Phan people leave their homes early in the morning, to let the wind god into the house, take away bad luck, and bring in good things, prosperity, and happiness.

On this day, the Dao Thanh Phan people temporarily put aside their work, do not go to the fields, do not go to the fields, instead they gather to have fun, date, drink together, make friends...

The most crowded place on the Wind Abstinence Day is Dong Van market. From early morning, the road to the market was crowded with people, everywhere filled with black shirts embroidered with red thread, red hats of the Dao Thanh Phan, green shirts of the San Chi, indigo shirts of the Tay...

People from all over the village gather here, crowding around the stalls selling local products, brocades, colorful threads, and hats... Along the bars around the market, men and women, young and old, drink together, enjoying the intoxicating feeling of alcohol. The drinking sessions can last from early morning until late afternoon.

Ms. Ly Thi Hanh (Dong Van commune, Binh Lieu district, Quang Ninh province) said that from early morning she prepared the most beautiful traditional costumes for the whole family to go out together.

“Today is the Wind Abstinence Festival so I can’t do anything. So today, I will only bring money to go to the market, meet friends or relatives, drink alcohol, and go out together” - Ms. Ly Thi Hanh said.

Announcing and receiving the Decision to include "Wind Abstinence Custom of Dao People" in Dong Van Commune, Binh Lieu District, Quang Ninh Province in the list of National Intangible Cultural Heritage. Photo: Bui My

Promote local culture

In recent years, the Wind Abstinence Festival has expanded in scale, becoming more vibrant and bustling than before. During the festival, many art performances, costume shows, folk games, ethnic sports , etc. attract not only the Thanh Phan Dao people in Dong Van, but also the Dao people in neighboring districts such as Ba Che, Dam Ha, Hai Ha, and people of other ethnic groups.

This is an opportunity for the locality to continue promoting and introducing the cultural beauty and customs of the Dao Thanh Phan people in particular and other ethnic groups in Binh Lieu district in general. Thereby contributing to preserving and promoting traditional values, enriching the spiritual life of the people.

This year, the Wind Abstinence Festival in Dong Van is more special than ever, because of the announcement and reception of the Decision to include "Wind Abstinence Custom of the Dao People" in Dong Van Commune, Binh Lieu District, Quang Ninh Province in the list of National Intangible Cultural Heritage. In addition, this year's Wind Abstinence Festival also has the participation of artists from Fangchenggang City, Guangxi, China.

Mr. Duong Phuc Thim (Dong Van Commune, Binh Lieu District, Quang Ninh Province): “Today we are very happy that the Wind Abstinence custom of the Dao Thanh Phan people has been recognized as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage. For the Dao Thanh Phan people, the Wind Abstinence custom is very sacred, so we hope that our traditional cultural beauty will spread more and more, not only within the locality but also further, to the region and abroad.”

The 2025 Wind Abstinence Festival has the participation of artists from Fangcheng area (Fangchenggang city, Guangxi, China). Photo: Bui My

For generations, the Wind Abstinence custom has not only been a spiritual ritual, but also a profound cultural message about the harmony between humans and nature, between the real world and the invisible world. That is how the Dao community strengthens faith, connects love and maintains solidarity within the community. Over the years, this custom has not been lost, but is still alive in life, preserved by artisans, shamans, sorcerers and the community.

Chairman of Binh Lieu District People's Committee Pham Duc Thang said: "The recognition of the Wind Abstinence custom as a national intangible cultural heritage is not only an honor, but also a responsibility for the local government and people. We clearly identify that preserving and promoting traditional cultural values is the foundation for sustainable development, the way for Binh Lieu to build its own identity, and enhance the local image in the integration flow."

Source: https://danviet.vn/dieu-dac-biet-gi-khien-hoi-kieng-gio-tro-thanh-di-san-van-hoa-phi-vat-the-d1329139.html