A gong performance (Photo source: VNA)
The Central Highlands province of Gia Lai has carried out practical activities to preserve the intangible cultural heritage of Bahnar and J’rai ethnic minority group.
There is an increase in the number of gong sets of Bahnar and J’rai ethnic people to meet the demand of using gongs in festivals. In 2004, the province had 5,126 gong sets with about 79,000 gongs. Now there are over 5,600 gong sets.
In 2006, the province invested VND200 million in buying gongs for villages that have no gongs, and assigned the villages to manage them. The province also provided training courses on gongs. Several districts opened contests on gong playing. Gongs have been taught for ethnic pupils in schools, especially ethnic boarding schools. Mang Yang district ethnic boarding school established a gong team with more than 20 pupils that represent schools to participate in gong festivals in the province and other provinces.
In 2011, a gong festival took place in Stor village, To Tung commune, K’Bang district, with the participation of ten gong teams and 400 artisans. The first national gong festival for children and teenagers was held at Dong Xanh Park, Pleiku city in 2011, drawing the participation of over 500 children and teenagers from 15 gong teams.
The province is responding to the Central Highlands National Tourism Year and has held festivals and ecological tours associated with gongs of Bahnar and J’rai ethnic group./.
Đăng ký: VietNam News
