In many past years, Khanh Son District has paid due attention to the preservation of the traditional cultural features of the ethnic minorities in the locality.
In many past years, Khanh Son District has paid due attention to the preservation of the traditional cultural features of the ethnic minorities in the locality.
Preserving, restoring and promoting cultural values
Khanh Son District is home to many generations of 13 ethnic groups namely Alou, Siri, Sa Ngoi, Ru Tu, Raglai, and so on. On this land, these ethnic groups formed and have practiced their cultural practices, such as holding grave-leaving rite and new rice ceremony, performing epic and folk songs, playing lithophone, chapi, ma la (musical instruments). Many historic and cultural monuments such as Doc Gao, Xom Co, To Hap, and Ta Nia are the pride of many ethnic groups in Khanh Son.
However, along with the development of society, the cultural exchanges among communities have affected the practice of cultural characteristics of the ethnic groups. Khanh Son District has taken many actions to prevent the oblivion of these cultural characteristics.
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Raglai people living in Thanh Son Commune, the most remote area of the district, have still preserved their epic songs, ma la musical instrument, and other traditional cultural features. In recent years, the locality has helped Raglai people to develop economic and improve their spiritual life. Through cultural and music activities, young people in the community can learn epic songs from the older generations. In Son Hiep Commune, implementing the commune’s program of tourism development, the locality upgraded and repaired the traditional long houses of Raglai people in Hon Dung Hamlet; held two ma la classes, one lithophone class, and two Raglai folk and epic song classes with a total of 20 learners. The commune also brought back the new rice ceremony of Raglai people; opened classes to preserve and promote the traditional manual knitting.
Preserving and promoting the traditional cultural values of the ethnic minorities, especially the Raglai, is considered one of the priorities in Khanh Son District. Every year, the district organizes music activities to create conditions for Raglai people to perform folk songs and play traditional musical instruments. Some local intangible cultural forms were recognized as national intangible cultural heritages, which has created conditions for the preservation of the traditional cultural values at risk of oblivion. Khanh Son District also paid attention to revive traditional crafts of the ethnic minorities.
Continuing to encourage initiative of local people
Although Khanh Son District has achieved certain results in preserving and promoting the traditional cultural values, there are still some difficulties in complementing this task, according to Truong Van Vy, Director of Khanh Son District Center for Culture, Information and Sports. The district has found a solution for the preservation of the cultural features of Raglai people, which is linking this task with local tourism development.
In the coming time, the district will continue to raise the awareness and responsibility of the authorities for this issue; focus on raising the awareness of local people and encourage those who are dedicated and knowledgeable about traditional culture preservation to actively participate in this task. In addition, the district will make statistics and document the traditional cultural heritages in the locality to create conditions for organizations and individuals to study; create specific policies on preserving the language and traditional costumes of Raglai people; encourage the initiative of local people in community activities; encourage them to teach and spread traditional culture and form cultural clubs.
Giang Đinh
Translated by H.N
