Preserving and spreading cultural values ​​through each heritage

Preserving traditional crafts

When mentioning the name Tay Ninh, many people immediately think of Trang Bang sun-dried rice paper, a rustic dish imbued with the soul of the countryside, which has been recognized as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage. Many years ago, Loc Du quarter (Trang Bang ward) was considered the "cradle" of the craft, a gathering place for artisans who hold traditional secrets. Although time has caused many artisans to no longer follow the craft, and the number of households still working there has gradually decreased, the flame of the craft has never gone out.

Drying rice paper in Trang Bang craft village (Photo: Nguyen Huynh Dong)

On a sunny morning, in the small kitchen, Mrs. Nguyen Thi Luan (An Phu quarter) quickly spread each thin rice paper while reminding her husband to bring the batch of rice paper that had been dried since morning to the shade. Having been a daughter-in-law of Trang region for several decades, watching her mother-in-law and sister-in-law spread rice paper, Mrs. Luan learned the secret to now continue the family's traditional work. For her, the secret of the profession is nothing but patience, skilled hands, experience in monitoring the flour, the fire, the sun, the dew, etc. "My family still uses a rice husk stove because the rice paper from this stove has a very unique flavor like rice cooked on a wood stove, which is more fragrant and sweeter than on an electric stove," ​​she shared with a smile. On a day, if the weather is nice and sunny, she can make more than 20 kg of rice paper. The work is hard but stable because the dew-dried rice paper is always favored by the market and above all, the love for the job is still anchored in the hearts of Trang Bang workers.

As a daughter-in-law of Trang region, Ms. Nguyen Thi Luan (An Phu quarter) continues to follow her family's traditional profession, making dew-dried rice paper

Nowadays, many families have used electric stoves for convenience and increased productivity, but no matter how, the soul of the profession still lies in the skillful hands and dedication of the worker so that the rice paper is spread evenly, beautifully, exposed to the sun and dew just enough to be soft and supple and absorb the dew. From the fragrant sticky rice paper, they also create many new types, serving the different tastes of diners.

In addition to sun-dried rice paper, Trang Bang also has many different types of rice paper thanks to the creativity of the craftsmen

According to Vice Chairman of Trang Bang Ward People's Committee Huynh Thi Thuy Trang, the locality always focuses on preserving and promoting traditional crafts. The Trang Bang Sun-dried Rice Paper Making Culture and Tourism Festival is an opportunity to honor heritage, spread the brand of hometown cuisine, and at the same time contribute to socio-economic development.

Festival highlights

If Trang Bang has the sun-dried rice paper making profession, in Tam Vu, people preserve the Lam Chay Festival, a unique cultural feature originating from gratitude to those who sacrificed for the country. Over the years, the festival has become a place for religious exchange, harmonizing the rituals of many religions, conveying the morality of "When drinking water, remember its source", fostering the spirit of humanity and tolerance.

Mr. Bui Van Biet (Tan Xuan Communal House Management Board) shared: “In the festival, there are always worship rituals of Caodaism and Buddhism and prayers for heroes and martyrs and the souls of the deceased, so that the villagers can have peace and a favorable harvest”. The harmony between the worship rituals of different religions in the Lam Chay Festival is maintained until today, a testament to the solidarity and heart of the indigenous community. No matter what religion they follow or what job they do, the people of Tam Vu still have a common heart towards the country and ancestors, always imbued with tolerance and kindness through each activity and program in the festival.

Tam Vu's Lam Chay Festival is not only a source of pride for the homeland but also a tradition of "When drinking water, remember its source" of the nation. The festival not only attracts local people and visitors from all over the world but is also a place for overseas Vietnamese to return. Although he has lived abroad for more than 10 years, Mr. Pham The Hung (Tam Vu commune) is still a core member of the annual Lam Chay Festival. Mr. Hung once shared that he attended the festival every year. His relatives all settled abroad, but he still wanted to return to participate in the Lam Chay Festival to be connected to his homeland, his roots, and to meet his neighbors.

The worship rituals in the Lam Chay Festival have been preserved until today

Over time, the Lam Chay Festival has developed many more festival activities to attract a large number of people such as folk games, parades, folk performances, etc., attracting tens of thousands of people to participate. In order to preserve the unique features of the festival, the joy of the people, and at the same time ensure that all recreational activities do not become excessive, unsafe or cause a bad image, the local authorities have made efforts in propaganda work and maintaining order.

According to Master Le Thi Thanh Yen shared in the article "Preserving and promoting the value of festivals in our country - Current situation and solutions", festivals are considered a bridge connecting the past with the present, one of the very good traditional and cultural educational environments for the young generation, a legitimate spiritual need of everyone, which needs to be respected. Festivals are not only a mirror reflecting national culture but also an environment for preserving, enriching and promoting the value of national culture.

Preserving and promoting the value of traditional crafts, craft villages, festivals or historical relics is to retain the good cultural values ​​that have been nurtured and filtered through hundreds of indigenous communities. Those are the core values, the bond that creates the cohesion and strength of the community and the nation.

In order to preserve and promote the good cultural values ​​of the province, recently, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism has advised on the preservation and promotion of intangible cultural values ​​in Tay Ninh province associated with the development of community tourism such as propagating and widely promoting historical relics; preserving and promoting traditional festivals such as the New Year Festival in Tay Ninh province associated with the development of community tourism; launching Khmer cultural experience tourism products in Long Hoa ward with the model of Learning about Khmer cultural heritage; Coordinate with localities to periodically organize programs and events to honor the Trang Bang rice paper making profession, the art of preparing vegetarian dishes in Tay Ninh province.

In addition, the province also has many activities to build festival tourism products: the Lam Chay Festival, the Long Thuong Ngu Hanh Lady Festival, the death anniversary of National Hero Nguyen Trung Truc, etc. Focus on developing the values ​​of historical and cultural relics while improving the quality of organizing festival tourism in the province is timely implemented by relevant sectors.

Tay Ninh today is on a new development journey, but in every way of life, every custom, every festival, there is still the "breath" of tradition, creating a unique identity that is both simple and sacred. Preserving and spreading that precious value is the connection between the past, present and future as well as preserving the core cultural values ​​of the ethnic community./.

By Moc Chau - Translated by Q. Thien

Source: https://baolongan.vn/giu-gin-va-lan-toa-gia-tri-van-hoa-qua-tung-di-san-a203205.html