Preserving the culture of the Lu ethnic group

To preserve and pass on the culture of the Lu ethnic group to future generations, for many years now, Lai Chau has organized cultural teaching classes. Artisan Lo Thi Son, a Lu ethnic group in Na Khum village, Ban Hon commune, Tam Duong district, is nearly 70 years old this year, but she still diligently teaches ancient dances or performs folk songs, bustling throughout the villages. Ms. Son said: During the process of reclaiming land, farming, and cultivating, I composed songs, thought of additional dances to teach to my children and grandchildren. At the same time, I taught and mobilized people in the village, especially young people, to participate in practicing. For older people like us, we are only worried about the traditional culture being lost, so we still have the strength to pass on and mobilize our children and grandchildren to inherit and promote it. I am very happy that this task now has the active support of both the district and the commune.

The Lu ethnic group in Lai Chau province has a population of less than 10,000 people.

To contribute to promoting traditional cultural identity, the Women's Union of Ban Hon commune has established 8 art troupes with 80 members, women from the villages participating in practice. To enrich and diversify the songs and dances, the members collect and stage folk songs such as: singing at weddings, singing to celebrate new houses, singing lullabies and singing in response with the motto "integration" not "dissolution".

The Lu people believe that all things have souls. They believe that the rule, management, and operation of the world of all things is an invisible supernatural force. Therefore, the Su Khon Khoai Festival (Worshiping the Buffalo Soul) of the Lu people in Ban Hon commune (Tam Duong district) is often held at the time of completing the rice planting season. Homeowners perform the buffalo soul worship ceremony to express their gratitude to this animal for its hard work, accompanying and working with people to bring about bountiful harvests. This is an occasion to honor the beauty and value of traditional cultural identity, raising awareness of preservation and conservation among the younger generation.

Lu ethnic people perform the dance of going down to the fields

Mr. Tran Manh Hung - Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism affirmed: "Currently, festivals of the Lu ethnic group are included in the list of financial support for the organization of restoration and maintenance. Some cultural values such as costumes and some traditional crafts, folk languages are being taught by the locality. Along with that, policies are supported for mass art troupes and folk culture clubs. The province is also interested in building profiles to honor folk artisans, excellent artisans, those who hold the practice of heritage, continue to promote the role in teaching and disseminating traditional cultural values of the community. From there, the unique cultural features of the Lu ethnic group are preserved intact, creating a colorful cultural picture of Lai Chau in particular, Vietnam in general.

In addition to the intangible cultural traditions, the traditional costumes of the Lu ethnic group are also one of the outstanding features. Like the Mong ethnic group or the Mang ethnic group, the costumes of the Luc people are handmade by the skillful hands of women with sophisticated and unique patterns. In particular, women often wear indigo shirts with open chests, the left flap overlapping the right flap and tied with colorful tassels. Ms. Lo Thi Di - a cultural officer of the commune said: Every day, Lu women often wear simple crocheted indigo dresses for convenience at work. On holidays, New Year, or when the family has distinguished guests, women wear two-layered skirts with eye-catching three-layer decorative patterns.

The Lu people are an ethnic minority with their own unique culture and arts, but thanks to that, they contribute to creating an advanced, rich, and colorful Vietnamese culture.

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