Ninh Binh: Keeping the fire of Bao Dap star lantern craft alive in the midst of modern life

Mr. Nguyen Van Quang, Head of the Economic, Infrastructure and Urban Department of Hong Quang Ward, said that every year Bao Dap craft village produces 1.5-2 million star lanterns, supplying them to many provinces and cities across the country.

The Mid-Autumn Festival atmosphere is bustling everywhere, in Bao Dap village, Hong Quang ward, Ninh Binh province, the largest star lantern making village in the North, people are busy completing colorful five-pointed lanterns, serving children to enjoy the full moon festival.

On the main roads in Bao Dap village near the Mid-Autumn Festival, many carts carry thousands of star lanterns of all sizes to the gathering point for transportation and sale.

In families that do the craft, people diligently and meticulously complete the final stages of the lamp, then carefully place it in an empty space in the front yard or corner of the house to wait for it to dry before neatly packing it into boxes and sending it to consumers.

Mr. Bui Van Huan (65 years old) is still diligently making traditional star lanterns. (Photo: Cong Luat/VNA)

At the age of 65, Mr. Bui Van Huan still works regularly from 7am to 9pm to create star lanterns that meet standards and are safe for children. He said it takes about 6 months to complete a lantern.

From the second lunar month, the craftsmen soaked the bamboo, then split it into strips and dried it for three months. By the sixth lunar month, the villagers had begun making lamps of various sizes, such as the small 20cm, medium 40cm, large 50cm and the special 1m.

The materials used to make the lamp are quite simple, including bamboo, cellophane paper and jute tree bones for the handle. The star lantern is completely handmade by the craftsmen at Bao Dap, starting from the process of shaving the bamboo strips, shaping the lamp from the bamboo strips, gluing the colored cellophane paper and finally placing it on the fire ring to shape the lamp.

Mr. Bui Van Huan shared that since he was 7-8 years old, he followed his parents to make star lanterns, and has been in the profession for nearly 60 years now. A seemingly simple lantern but contains professional secrets that have been passed down through many generations, helping the product to be light, beautiful, and safe for children to play with.

On average, his family produces about 15,000 lamps each year, earning 40-45 million VND at the end of the season.

Regarding this year’s market, Mr. Huan said that in previous years, by mid-July of the lunar calendar, his family had sold about 80% of the goods, but currently there are still many lanterns in stock. He hopes that from now until the Mid-Autumn Festival, the products made from the beginning of the year will be sold out.

Mr. Vu Van Trung's family, hamlet 4, Bao Dap village also produces a large number of star lanterns, including the type with a diameter of up to 1 meter, decorated with colorful motifs, the center printed with an image of Uncle Ho wearing a red scarf for children and the words "Remember Uncle Ho on Mid-Autumn Festival."

This year, the family has only sold over 1,000, mostly small ones. However, people still maintain production to preserve the profession, hoping that as the Mid-Autumn Festival approaches, purchasing power will increase.

People of Bao Dap craft village decorate star lanterns. (Photo: Cong Luat/VNA)

Bao Dap village has about 1,000 households, of which nearly 300 households are engaged in the craft of making star lanterns. Although making star lanterns is a side job, it is the main source of income for many families in the village.

On average, each household makes 5,000-8,000 lanterns per year, while large households can make 10,000-15,000 lanterns. Small star lanterns are currently priced at VND5,000 each, medium ones VND6,000, large ones VND8,000 and special ones VND80,000 each. After deducting expenses, craftspeople earn VND150,000-200,000 per person per day.

Mr. Nguyen Van Quang, Head of the Economic , Infrastructure and Urban Department of Hong Quang Ward, said that every year Bao Dap craft village produces 1.5-2 million star lanterns, supplying them to many provinces and cities across the country.

Normally, by mid-July of the lunar calendar, craft households have sold 60-70% of their products. However, this year, consumption is slower. Hopefully, from now until the Mid-Autumn Festival, more products will be sold and the prices will be higher so that people can feel secure in sticking with the profession./.

(TTXVN/Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/ninh-binh-giu-lua-nghe-den-ong-sao-bao-dap-giua-nhip-song-hien-dai-post1061597.vnp