Na Nhem festival kicked off in Lang Son province
The annual Na Nhem festival in Tran Yen commune, Bac Son district, Lang Son province, known as one of the most unique festivals of fertility in Vietnam, was held on the 15th of the first lunar month.
The annual Na Nhem festival in Tran Yen commune, Bac Son district, Lang Son province, known as one of the most unique festivals of fertility in Vietnam, was held on the 15th of the first lunar month (February 5).
Na Nhem means dirty face in the language of Tay ethnic minority people. This annual event attracts many Tay people and visitors in Tran Yen Commune, Bac Son District, Lang Son Province.
During the festival, all participants have to make their face dirty to drive away evil’s attention which might bring disasters and diseases to villagers. The event is held to promote traditional and unique features of a community festival.
The festival includes two processions; one, to escort the god and the deities from Tran Yen communal house to Xa Vun shrine for worshiping. This procession is led by four men who represent a general and his three assistant generals.
The other is to escort the sacred offerings to the shrine. The offerings include rice and taro, cycad and medical herbs, accompanied with linga and yoni, the symbols of fertility and harmony of heaven and earth, which imply bumper crops and peace for villagers.
The processions stop by noon when all the offerings are given to the gods at the shrine. In the afternoon, attendants to the festival join cultural activities, including folk games and folklore performances of the Tay.
