Telling Raglai cultural stories under Yang Bay waterfall

(Fatherland) - Located in the middle of a vast primeval forest, Yang Bay waterfall attracts many tourists to explore nature and experience Raglai culture with local people.

About 35km west of Nha Trang City ( Khanh Hoa Province), at Yang Bay Tourist Park (Khanh Phu Commune, Khanh Vinh District), there are three waterfalls, of which Yang Bay is the main waterfall, starting from Gia Kang peak 80m high, stretching 2km, next to two small waterfalls Yang Khang and Ho-Cho.

Ms. Ngoc Mai, 32 years old, a tourist from Hanoi who came to Yang Bay waterfall for the first time, said that the waterfall is wild and suitable for lovers of exploration . "From afar, Yang Bay waterfall looks like a white silk strip. Soaking in the water at the foot of the waterfall helps you wash away all the daily fatigue," Ms. Mai shared.

Dressed in traditional Raglai attire, Chieu Phich (standing in the middle) performed a dance of her people and told visitors about the history of Yang Bay waterfall. The 21-year-old girl said that in Raglai language, Yang Bay means "waterfall of heaven", Yang Khang means "son of heaven" and Ho-Cho means "mother waterfall".

“In the flood season, the waterfall is like a young girl's flowing hair,” Phich likened, the waterfall is a testament to the love story between a fairy descending to earth and a Raglai woodcutter. Yang Bay Waterfall flows to this day, it is the source of life for all species,...

Since 2003, Yang Bay Tourist Park has been in operation, becoming an eco-tourism resort combined with promoting and introducing the unique culture of the Raglai ethnic group here.

In the tourist area, there is a three-rooted tree over 500 years old located right at the foot of Phuong Hoang hill, respectfully called the Wood God by the Raglai people here, because two banyan trees and one banyan tree are wrapped around each other, symbolizing the three waterfalls Yang Bay, Yang Khang and Ho-cho.

The branches and main trunk, secondary trunk are connected and tightly connected to create a solid position for the ancient tree for centuries, like a god guarding the forest, protecting and blessing the villagers. The base of the tree requires 20 people to hug, the canopy is over 200m2, shading a large space. In particular, the Raglai people say that whoever writes their wishes on a silk strip and hangs it on the tree canopy will have all their wishes come true.

Currently, Yang Bay Tourist Park is creating jobs for more than 30 local Raglai people, accounting for 1/3 of the workforce of this tourist area. Along with Phich, more than 10 other Raglai people are directly participating in performing arts activities, introducing the national cultural identity to tourists when coming to Yang Bay waterfall.

Artist Cao Dy (left), 48 years old, is considered the leader of the Raglai art troupe in Yang Bay because he is proficient in many traditional musical instruments of his people such as lithophone, chapi, ma la, goong, tacung flute,... and folk songs and dances.

According to Mr. Dy, the Raglai people's folk art forms are diverse and unique, but due to the impact of modern life, those traditional cultural values ​​are gradually fading away. "I get to work according to my interests, but more importantly, I have the opportunity to spread the traditional cultural beauty of my people. Contribute to preserving, teaching and promoting traditional cultural and artistic values ​​to young people," said Mr. Dy.

Over the past twenty years, the Raglai art troupe in Yang Bay has performed thousands of times for tourists to enjoy. Not only that, the members also study and improve their understanding of their own culture, and teach the next generation with the hope of contributing to preserving the nation's precious cultural identity.

Khanh Vinh is one of two districts with the largest concentration of Raglai people in Khanh Hoa province, with more than 17,000 Raglai people, accounting for over 48% of the district's population.

Mr. Le Dung Lam - Director of Yang Bay Tourist Park said that because the tourist area is located in a place where many Raglai people live, the unit always determines that it is necessary to link tourism development with preserving and promoting the good traditional cultural values ​​of the indigenous people.

“We have been struggling with this since our establishment,” said Mr. Lam. The unit has mobilized Raglai people, especially young people with artistic talent, to train them, thereby preserving the “soul” of Raglai culture through each sound of musical instruments, each song and each dance.

Mr. Lam said that, despite experiencing entertainment activities, what remains in the hearts of tourists the most is the indigenous culture. "Not only do tourists enjoy the special performances by Raglai boys and girls, but they also join the dance team like real dancers. Through this, we hope to spread the cultural beauty of the Raglai people closer to tourists, contributing to promoting the beauty of Vietnamese ethnic culture in the hearts of domestic and foreign tourists," Mr. Lam affirmed./.

Source: https://toquoc.vn/ke-chuyen-van-hoa-raglai-duoi-dong-thac-yang-bay-20241105204219516.htm