The festival is annually held on the 6th day of the sixth lunar month.For Giay people in Lai Chau, the land, forest and river have their own gods. In particular, the forest god is the most sacred deity, protecting villagers in their daily life.

The festival this year featured rituals and festive activities. The opening and the forest worshiping ceremonies took place under a huge tree inside the forbidden forest of Nam Loong I village. Then, local residents and visitors participated in folk games of Giay ethnic people such as the crossbow shooting, cake pounding noodle cutting contests, tug of war, sack jump, blindfolded and beating gong, blindfolded and catching ducks, etc.

Hau Doong annual festival practically aims to promote community cohesion as well as environmental protection, especially forest preservation, contributing to foster the ecological sustainability.

Giay ethnic people (or Pu Giay, Hun Giay) in Lai Chau province reside in the province’s eight districts and city with about 14,000 people, accounting for 3.09% of the provincial population. In Lai Chau city, Giay people mostly live in Quyet Thang ward and San Thang commune.

PH (vanhoa.vn)