Fun in the countryside

Generally called a festival, because in the ceremonies of communal houses, temples, religious ceremonies, etc., there are usually two separate parts: the ceremony and the festival. Festivals attract many people to join in the fun, because after the rituals of the organizing committee, the community blends together comfortably and cohesively.

In the midst of modern life, joining the crowd of festival-goers, people can still see blindfolded duck catching or sack jumping. In a corner of the communal house yard, games of smashing clay pots, tug of war... seem to bring people closer together. The elderly are arranged at a few tables by the riverbank to calmly play Chinese chess, while the active youth compete in volleyball, badminton, and singing. Mr. Thanh Tin (Binh Thanh Dong commune, Phu Tan district) expressed: "When I was only 6 years old, my mother took me to the communal house. Now I am in my 70s, I don't participate in any games anymore, just standing and watching is fun. On occasions like this, people have the opportunity to strengthen the bond between the village and the neighborhood."

A characteristic of rural areas is that not only during communal house worship, but also on big full moon days, religious ceremonies, and occasions to honor an important figure worshiped locally, recreational activities also take place similarly bustlingly.

Games in the temple worship ceremony

If we talk about going to festivals to get a ticket back to childhood, then the countryside is the place that still holds a lot of joy for generations. Twice a year, when the Hoa Hao Buddhist ceremony takes place, the Hieu Nghia flying motorcycle circus troupe appears as if it were an appointment. If we go back a few decades, this performance was a luxury for a large audience of all ages. But... the children are no longer interested, making those who follow the profession feel sad. The ticket price is only 20,000 - 30,000 VND, the audience standing around the wooden wall are all of the age of fathers, mothers, grandparents...

Attracted by clips circulating online, Vo Thanh Tan, a tourism student (Can Tho City) traveled to An Giang to learn about the village communal house culture. The young man hopes that what he has gathered through documents, local people and official sources will help enrich and improve his report. “In the West, the village communal house culture is very strong in the spiritual life of the people. Besides the rituals of the communal houses, I am also impressed by the festive atmosphere of the places I have passed through. It is a part of the village culture from ancient times that has been continued to the present, which I think is worth preserving and promoting,” Tan shared.

HOAI ANH

Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/vui-hoi-o-que-a423230.html