More than 1,000 Bana Kriem, Hre, and Cham Hroi ethnic minority people mainly live in mountainous districts of Vinh Thanh, An Lao, Van Canh, and some areas in Tay Son and Hoai An districts. They own a distinctive cultural feature called Gong culture which has been highly valued for the past years.
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Ethnic minority people in Vinh Thanh district celebrate their own festival. Photo Viet Y/baotintuc.vn |
According to the statistics released by Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, there are now more than 80 sets of Gong across the province, of which Hre ethnic group owns 20 sets of Gong, Bana Kriem ethnic group preserves 48 sets, and Cham Hroi group keeps 18 sets.
Their sets of Gong are often used in special events, like wedding party, according to Dr. Dinh Ba Hoa, director of Binh Dinh Museum.
Some of ethnic minority groups’ unique cultural features, including the Gong culture, have been consigned to oblivion for many reasons.
Binh Dinh has built a proposal to preserve and uphold the value of Gong culture; however, the issue needs the full support from the local and Central authorities as well as businesses.
In addition, the history of Gong culture must become an essential part of the school curriculum at boarding schools for ethnic minority students.
On the other hand, the local authorities need to ban and seriously fine any illegal purchases of Gongs and effectively uphold the Gong culture in ethnic minority groups’ festivals.
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