Bac Giang kicks off second Chau Van (Vietnamese ritual) singing festival

Updated: 16:32, 26/10/2017

(BGO) – The provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism coordinated with the Luc Nam district People’s Committee on October 25 to launch the second Chau Van singing festival 2017 at Suoi Mo eco-tourism site in Luc Nam district, Bac Giang province.

Nguyen Van Linh, Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee presents the flower to congratulate the festival participants.

The event was attended by Nguyen Van Linh, Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee and leaders of several departments, sectors and organisations in the province and Luc Nam district.

The festival lured about 250 artists, cung van (singers), thanh dong (medium), performers, musicians representing 10 provincial districts and city as well as 6 clubs from the cities of Hanoi, Thai Nguyen, Vinh Phuc, Nam Dinh, Luc Nam district and Bac Giang province.

The performance of Luc Nam team.

Each team showed three Van singings ( less than 5 minutes for each) and three Gia Chau Van (performances) (each lasted for about 15 minutes). The Van singing honored the Party, President Ho Chi Minh, Vietnamese nation and people while Chau Van performances (36 mediumship) traditionally sang the praise of saints, genies, divinities and heroes who contributed to the nation.

The festival aimed at traditional education, preservation and development of the national culture values helping the audience deeply understand the Van singing, Chau Van singing, Mother Goddess worshipping of the Vietnamese people which was recognised as the intangible cultural heritage of mankind by UNESCO.

Van singing at the festival.

In addition, the event provided the artists with a chance to exchange knowledge; the functional authorities with the orientation to complete the content and performing method for the traditional spiritual music. The organisation board requested the participants not to give money (phat loc), command or show offensive actions during their performances while wearing suitable clothes for the ritual signing.

The launching ceremony was followed by welcoming performances of Luc Nam team and Club of Vietnamese Mother Goddess worshipping preservation (Hanoi team).

The festival has lasted till October 27.

The festival attracts a large number of audiences.

According to cultural-historical researchers, Suoi Mo temple worships Thanh Mau Thuong Ngan (Mother Goddess) with a close relation to Tam Phu, Tu Phu religious of Vietnamese people where Chau Van and Hau Dong ritual ceremonies have been regularly performed attracting many visitors.