Immersed in Quan Ho melodies
As scheduled, this year's Lim festival takes place on two days, February 28 and March 1 (ie, January 12 and 13 of the lunar calendar) in the center of Hong Van mountain (Lim mountain) and villages belonging to the former Noi Due canton, now Tien Du commune, Bac Ninh province.
Roads leading to the festival center are crowded with people, creating a bustling atmosphere.
In the crowded stream, Ms. Ngo Thi Hien (Bac Ninh), wearing a traditional Quan Ho costume, shared: "I really love the heritage of my homeland. Today, wearing Quan Ho costumes and joining the crowd at Lim festival, I feel both happy and very proud to spread the folk culture of Kinh Bac land to tourists from near and far.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Hue, a tourist from Ninh Binh, shared that the first time she came to Lim festival, she was very impressed with the beauty of Quan Ho culture, from Quan Ho costumes, songs, elegant communication and methodical festival organization.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Nguyen, Head of the Young Bamboo Shoe Quan Ho Club of Dai Dong commune (Bac Ninh) said: Every year, every time the Lim festival comes, she brings members of the club to the Lim festival to perform, exchange, and learn Quan Ho vocabulary from the "lien anh" and "lien chi" singers.
According to Ms. Nguyen, with the love of folk songs and the dedicated guidance of artisans, to date, members of the club, from 3-year-old children to older children, are proficient in dozens of melodies.
Although there are many tourists, many clubs, and Quan Ho villages performing and interacting at the Lim festival, everyone who comes here shares a love for Quan Ho. Some people travel thousands of kilometers to the Festival just to live with the colorful cultural space of Quan Ho.
Tourists and locals gather to watch Quan Ho performances at camps, main stages on Hong Van mountain (Lim), and at many other traditional Quan Ho singing spaces such as the communal house gate, on boats at Van Tuong regulating lake...
Promoting heritage values
This year's festival is even more special because Lim festival has just been recognized as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage.
According to Mr. Mai Son - Standing Vice Chairman of Bac Ninh Provincial People's Committee, this is not only the joy and pride of the Party Committee, government and people of Tien Du and Lien Bao communes, but also a common honor of Bac Ninh province - the land of Kinh Bac with thousands of years of civilization, a place that converges and spreads the unique cultural values of the Vietnamese nation.
The State's decision to include the Traditional Festival - Lim Festival in the List of National Intangible Cultural Heritage is a worthy recognition of the unique historical, cultural, artistic and community values of the festival; and at the same time affirms the sustainable vitality of a heritage nurtured from the hearts of the people," said the Standing Vice Chairman of Bac Ninh Provincial People's Committee.
Besides the honor, Mr. Mai Son also pointed out that heritage only truly lives when it is respected, practiced and passed down by the community with all pride and awareness of preservation.
Mr. Son requested the locality to continue to strictly implement the provisions of law on protecting and promoting heritage values; strengthen propaganda and education, especially for the young generation.
Along with that, it is necessary to link conservation with sustainable development; organize solemn, civilized, economical festivals, promote heritage values associated with cultural tourism development, improve the material and spiritual life of the people, especially artisans - creative subjects of heritage.
