The Toom Sara Fest – Love Season programme is taking place in joyful and bustling ambiance on Saturday and Sunday (27- 28 March) at the Toom Sara traditional village, nestled in Hoa Phu mountainous commune, Hoa Vang District, Da Nang. The event features the time-honoured traditional customs of the Co Tu ethnic minority people.

The programme aims to preserve the fine cultural traditions of the Co Tu people.

Visitors to the event have the opportunity to experience the distinctive culture of the Co Tu ethnic group.

Included are the ‘tung tung da da’ dance, ceremonies to celebrate new rice and a bumper crop, plus a traditional wedding ceremony.

Below are photos capturing images of Co Tu ethnic senior people reenacting the ceremony of raising the Lunar New Year pole (‘Cay Neu’ in Vietnamese).

‘Cay Neu’ is of great significance in the spiritual life and  the daily activities of the Co Tu ethnic people. It is raised in traditional festivals such as celebrating new crops and praying for rain.

The pole is usually decorated quite elaborately with many details and patterns with four main colours: black, white, red, and yellow, thus expressing traditional culture and spiritual elements in the beliefs of the Co Tu people.

After the rituals, the pole was erected by young villagers

Villagers usually dance and sing around the newly built bamboo pole.

By NGOC HA- Translated by A.T