What does the Ban Vuong Festival in Quang Ninh feature?

The Ban Vong festival of the Sa people is a deeply humane rite that reminds them of their roots. It also binds families and villages together, strengthening solidarity as they build their homeland. Legend says Ban Vong rendered great service by defeating Chow Vong, an invader, so King Ban Vong honored him and gave him a daughter in marriage. Ban Vong and his wife had 12 children, 6 sons, and 6 daughters, whom King Ban Vong appointed as the founders of 12 clans. Ban Vong lived simply and taught the Sa people to grow rice and weave cloth. Since Ban Vong's death, the Sa people have honored him as the founding ancestor of their clans. During festivals, new year celebrations, and initiation rites, the Sa people reverently make offerings to Ban Vong. Each year, from the 15th day of the 10th lunar month to the 30th day of the 12th, the Sa Du descendants take turns hosting the Ban Vong ancestral rite. In Ho Thao Commune, the Sa Du people observe this rite in two main forms, the clan-wide Ban Vong rite and the family rite. Twelve clans take part in the clan-wide rite. Each clan appoints one man and one woman to represent them in offering incense and offerings to Ban Vong. The clans take turns presiding over the ceremony. If disaster, crop failure, or financial hardship strikes, they hold a small ceremony and ask Ban Vong to wait, promising a formal rite after a bountiful harvest the following year. Usually, if a family raises a sow that gives birth to just one male piglet, they regard it as Ban Vong's pig, also called a sacred pig. The family appoints a ceremony leader and must give the sacred pig special care in a separate pen. At year's end, it is offered to Ban Vong. The rite is also held by clans who regard Ban Vong as their founding ancestor and gather to perform it according to tradition. The ceremony usually lasts for quite a long time. The family Ban Vong rite is combined with other family ceremonies, such as initiation rites. The new rice ceremony, rice spirit offerings, and vegetarian rites. No ritual master is needed because the men and household heads have already undergone initiation and can perform the rite within the family. The Sa Du people also hold Ban Vong rites when a family suffers misfortune, such as illness, epidemics, or crop failure, as a means of warding off bad luck, though this form is uncommon. The rite requires offerings including a cleaned pig, with its entrails and blood prepared. A rooster, 12 pairs of sticky rice cakes wrapped in banana leaves, and a bundle of rice tied with white cloth, Sa Tien, ritual paper, two wine cups, and other offerings cut, punched, or stamped into shapes or characters by ritual masters, one set for Ban Vong and another for the ancestors and deities. A wooden altar is set up in the center of the house beside the ancestor altar, decorated with colored paper, ritual paintings, cloth, and woven bamboo ornaments. Before the Ban Vong rite, participating family and clan ritual masters must observe seven days of abstinence. From the moment the household head invites them, spouses must remain apart. Before retrieving the paintings, the household head must bathe thoroughly. Then enter the room where the ritual paintings are kept, a particularly sacred place. Everyone attending must eat vegetarian food and refrain from cursing or criticizing one another. On the day of the rite, the ritual masters come to the household head's home and set up the altar. A set of Tamton paintings hangs in the center of the house, while two sets belonging to the Ritual Masters hang beside the Ancestor Altar. The Ritual Masters purify the entire house with sacred water, perform pacifying rites, and affix talismans. Written in Nangsa script on ritual paper around the house. They then invoke the spirits of Ban Vong, the Ancestors, the gods, and the Ritual Master spirit soldiers to attend the ceremony. Before the Ancestor Altar, the first offering is a vegetarian meal for the Ancestors. On behalf of the household, the ritual masters invite the three Tamton, Ban Vong, the ancestors, and the earth deities to attend. Once the offerings are prepared, the ritual masters are invited to invoke Sa Tien, Ban Vong, and the deities to witness the ceremony. The sacred pig is brought to the altar as an offering to Sa Tien and Ban Vong. Representatives of the twelve clans then offer incense, with twelve pairs of men and women presenting incense and offerings in turn. Standing behind the ritual masters, they bow and welcome the spirits of the ancestors, Ban Vong, and the deities. The altar is arranged with a pig, a slaughtered sacred pig, a bowl of rice, a bowl of water, a bottle of wine, some boat of money, five cups, and five pairs of chopsticks. Six ritual masters sit on two parallel benches facing each other on either side of the altar. The chief ritual master solemnly conducts the rite, offering the sacred pig to Ban Vong and asking him to bless the household's descendants and the Sa clans. The assistant ritual masters then recite chants about the creation of the world, the great flood, migration, and the settlement of the Sa people. They continue by recounting Ban Vong's merits in giving birth to the Sa clans. The attendants then place rice, wine, and cakes on the altar near the Sa Tien altar. The chief ritual master next performs rites for Ban Vong, the ancestors, the deities, and the household heads clan. This is followed by ceremonial dances, including the turtle catching dance and the bell dance. Wearing six different costumes, the Ritual Masters recreate ancient dances, an indispensable part of the Ban Vong Rite. After honoring Ban Vong, the ancestors, the household head's deities, and the twelve Sa clans, the Ritual Masters burn the boat of money and sing a farewell song. The ancestors and deities return to the spiritual realm. After the Ban Vong Rite, the villagers gather for a communal meal. The Ritual Master blows the horn, inviting Ban Vong and the deities to partake of the offerings. They witnessed the offerings and the sincerity of the 12 clans. The ritual masters ring bells to gather everyone for the bell and stick dances. These express unity in driving away invaders and evil spirits, bringing peace and good fortune to their descendants. For its cultural significance, the Sadoo People's Ban Vong Rite was added to the National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage. This was under Decision No. 779 by the Ministry History of Culture, Sports and Tourism, dated April 4, 2022. The rite brings people together to meet, share, and take part in community life, strengthening their solidarity. It also teaches traditions to the younger generation, passing down the chants and ritual practices. This helps preserve and promote the cultural identity of the Tsaw people.