Following the Co Tu village festival...

Co Tu people participate in a gong and drum performance. Photo: DANG NGUYEN

After nearly 10 years of interruption, it seems that the 4th Co Tu Traditional Cultural Festival of Song Kon Commune (opened yesterday, July 18) did not "cool down" the expectations of both locals and tourists.

The festival, which includes cultural and artistic performances combined with traditional cuisine , is considered an effort by the Co Tu people after the pandemic to keep tourists staying longer in the community.

The color show

The traditional village festival begins. The Co Tu artisans take turns walking to the gươl yard, right in front of the x'nur (pole) of Bhơ Hòông village.

The village elder's words echoed amidst the beat of gongs and drums, signaling that the fun was about to begin. The pair of gongs were beaten loudly, continuing after the ritual of worshiping the gods, the whole village joined in the rhythm of the drums, bustling with the dance of Tung Tung and Da Da.

Co Tu girls shine in traditional costumes. Photo: DANG NGUYEN

Returning home after studying at Quang Nam Ethnic Boarding High School, Alang Thi Phuong Thuy spent nearly a month practicing with people in Bhlo Ben village (Song Kon commune).

The performance of gong and drum dance combined with tang tung and da da dance by Phuong Thuy and Bhlo Ben villagers attracted the welcome of the community and tourists.

Phuong Thuy said, this is the first time she has participated in a large-scale community festival, so she is very proud. Many traditional da da dance movements were taught and performed, helping young people like Thuy understand more about the cultural colors, as well as the value of this unique and long-standing performing art form of the Co Tu people.

“Each village has its own color, everyone wants to bring to the audience the most unique performances, recreating the lively and attractive Co Tu life space to serve tourists” - Phuong Thuy shared.

The da da dance of Co Tu girls leaves many impressions on tourists. Photo: DANG NGUYEN

Phuong Thuy's story reminds me of the unexpected encounter with a group of tourists from Da Nang City on the morning of the festival. Most of them were students, who came to this traditional Co Tu village festival quite by chance, when they were participating in a survey trip for the upcoming volunteer program.

Witnessing a colorful traditional festival for the first time, Ngoc Thuy - a girl from Quang Tri province confided that everyone in the group wanted to stay longer to witness more performances by the local people.

Therefore, throughout the festival, Thuy and her friends spent time watching and recording beautiful moments of the Co Tu community, through unique and impressive performances.

Warm solidarity

Ms. Dinh Thi Ngoi - Chairman of the People's Committee of Song Kon commune said that after many years of interruption due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the locality restarted the traditional Co Tu cultural festival as an occasion to inspire emotions and create a spirit of solidarity among the local community.

Village elders participate in talking and singing about philosophy. Photo: DANG NGUYEN

Taking advantage of the large population of Co Tu people, the festival also aims to preserve cultural values, especially the rituals of worshipping gods, creating an original community living space.

Ms. Ngoi said that under the impact of modern social life, many cultural values ​​of the Co Tu people are at risk of being lost.

To further strengthen the role of connecting, orienting and transmitting traditional cultural values ​​in the community, especially the youth, the festival is considered an occasion to honor tangible and intangible cultural heritage values, contributing to preserving the intact Co Tu identity.

“After this festival, in addition to promoting community participation in cultural preservation, villages continue to expand the construction and maintenance of models of gong and drum dance clubs, brocade weaving, folk song and folk song singing, etc., creating trust for the community in the process of building a new, civilized, beautiful and prosperous life,” Ms. Ngoi emphasized.

Stalls displaying agricultural products serve tourists at the festival. Photo: DANG NGUYEN

Throughout the festival, hundreds of artisans, actors and the Co Tu community enthusiastically participated in introducing and promoting mountain agricultural products and displaying unique cultural and tourism products.

In addition, the locality also displayed an exhibition of socio-economic development achievements, organized art exchanges, performed traditional costumes combined with gong and drum dances, and talked and sang folk songs.

“This year’s festival attracted more than 400 artists and actors to participate in the performance. Therefore, the festival is not simply a cultural event, but also an opportunity to connect the Co Tu community, create momentum for economic development, preserve and promote unique and long-standing cultural values,” said Ms. Ngoi.

Source: https://baoquangnam.vn/vong-theo-hoi-lang-co-tu-3138176.html