Many ethnic cultural houses degraded

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Ethnic culture house of the Choro in Tuc Trung commune (Dinh Quan district) - a highlight in promoting local cultural institutions (Photo: Van Truyen)

Destination for community activities

Vice Chairman of the People's Council of Tuc Trung Commune (Dinh Quan district) Dieu Hoang said that the Cultural House of the Choro in Tuc Trung has become a destination not only for compatriots but also for tourists from near and far for many years. In particular, on the occasion of holidays, New Year, or the new rice worshiping, the Choro people organize Sayangva festivals attracting a large number of people to participate in. These festive activities are considered as potentials and important advantages for the locality to develop into attractive tourist attractions.

In early 2020, Muong people in Tan Lap hamlet, Phu Tuc commune were happy and excited when ethnic cultural house of the Muong was completed after a long time of construction. Head of the Tan Lap Wine Cooperative Group, Tan Lap hamlet, Quach Thi Hong Nguyet, said that although the ethnic culture house was completed in early 2020, due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, the CPC has not organized its opening yet. However, in the cultural house, there are full exhibits of the Muong people, equipment, facility, and bookcases, etc.

Long Khanh City has over 171,000 people, over 16,000 people of which come from 12 ethnic minorities. In particular, the indigenous ethnic group is the Choro group accounting for over 3.3 people and the Hoa group accounting for over 9.1 thousand people. Head of Ethnic Minority Department of Long Khanh City Dang Thanh Hieu said that Long Khanh has done a good job in preserving the traditional culture of the ethnic groups in the area. Many festivals of the people were restored, creating belief for the people in the leadership of the Party, and governance and administration of the government.

“Every year, we mobilize many resources from organizations and individuals for conservation of key festivals such as: SaYangva Festival (celebrating New Rice), Sayangbri (worshiping of the forest god) of the Choro; Ta Tai Phan (the Hoa), Chol Chnam Thmay Tet, Sendontal Ceremony, Ok Om Bok (the Khmer), etc. Especially, the city has spent a lot of money on equipping gongs, costumes and teaching Choro young people to play the gongs. After being restored and then organized by the authorities at all levels, all ethnic groups in the area have been handed over to organize the festival themselves, the government only plays a supporting role." said Mr. Hieu.

Many ethnic cultural houses have been degraded

Long Thanh district is a locality with 3 ethnic cultural houses: Choro (Phuoc Binh commune), Cham (Binh Son commune) and S’tieng (Tan Hiep commune), which are now seriously degraded over the time. Accordingly, the fence system in those cultural houses has peeled off their paint, the system of children's games is seriously damaged; functional rooms is heavily leaked; fans and indoor decoration lights are out of use, and soccer and volleyball fields have no gates.

The ethnic culture house of the Cham in hamlet 6, Binh Son commune was built and put into use in 2013 with a total budget of nearly VND 4 billion. Head of the Women's Union Association, Hamlet 6, Binh Son Mari Ah Kim Loan said that the culture house of the Cham is often closed, very few people come there for community activities. Although built in a cool place with a space of more than 5 thousand m2, the cultural house lacks a lot of interior furniture. The traditional artifacts of the Cham people on display have long been degraded and damaged. In the house, only a few sets of tables and chairs, a small bookcase with dozens of old books, all of which are covered with dust.

The degradation at ethnic culture house of the Choro (Phuoc Binh commune, Long Thanh district) is similar. According to the members of the management board, the traditional objects displayed in the ethnic culture house have been degraded. The system of fences and walls has peeled off paint and the roof is leaked. Equipment installed for children to play is no longer available. The cultural house only organizes activities on holidays, New Year, cultural exchanges or gift giving for children and disadvantaged people.

Not only in Long Thanh district, at Tan Phu district, the Cultural House of ethnic groups in Ta Lai commune is spaciously invested from the system of equipment to the reading room and gallery of artifacts, etc. but they have not been used efficiently yet. The cultural houses are often closed, only open at meetings with very few cultural and arts activities to attract people to participate in. Children who want to have fun often have to go to vacant fields near their home or follow their parents to upland fields.

Hoa Binh