Go to Lai Chau to see the Kin Lau Khau Mau Festival of the Thai people

This is an occasion for people to express their gratitude to heaven, earth and gods for giving people bountiful crops and many good things.

The Thai ethnic group has indigenous origins and has long lived in the Northwest in general and Phong Tho district in particular. They have constantly created traditional cultural values, imbued with national identity. The Kin Lau Khau Mau festival is a traditional ceremony of the Thai people.

Every year, when the yellow color spreads across the hills, it is also the time when the ethnic minorities in the Northwest region harvest the new rice. The Thai people in Phong Tho also eagerly organize the Kin Lau Khau Mau Festival to pray for the villagers, the Muong and tourists to have many good things, always be healthy, warm; favorable rain, wind, good crops, pray for blessings for the family and children.

Mr. Bui Quang Lich, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Muong So Commune, Phong Tho District, said: The festival is a beautiful traditional culture of the Thai people that has been passed down through many generations. The festival is also an opportunity for people of all ethnic groups to gather, exchange cultures, build a healthy spiritual and cultural life, and promote the strength of great solidarity.

The Kin Lau Khau Mau Festival consists of two parts. During the ceremony, the following rituals take place: welcoming the rice soul; worshiping the rice soul; pounding green rice, praying for peace; worshiping the gods, praying for blessings and giving thanks. Then, in the festival, the locals and tourists participate in many traditional folk games and dances such as: Tug of war, bamboo pole jumping, throwing con and xoe dance. These activities have brought the locals and tourists closer together, and helped them appreciate the traditional cultural features of the Thai people in the community of Vietnamese ethnic groups.

Among them, the ritual of pounding green rice and praying for peace has attracted many tourists to experience. The process of making green rice is quite complicated. The rice is roasted over a small fire, turned over continuously to heat evenly until the grains crack and give off a fragrant smell. According to the Thai people's concept, this is an important step that determines the deliciousness of the green rice, because if the fire is too high, it will be hard, if the fire is not high, it will lose its elasticity. When the rice is roasted, it is put into the mortar, the pounder must be steady, continuous and rhythmic so that the pestle's rhythm is just right. The pounded green rice is wrapped in green dong leaves, which both enhances the green color of the green rice and preserves the fragrant smell of rice milk...

Ms. Nguyen Thi Dinh, a resident from Lai Chau City who came to the festival, shared: The festival is very unique with many unique rituals, especially enjoying the green rice dish made by Thai girls, and having fun with the villagers playing xoe and shuttlecock.

Ms. Mai Thi Hong Sim, Vice Chairwoman of Phong Tho District People's Committee said: Kin Lau Khau Mau Festival is restored and preserved to preserve the unique cultural features and encourage the people's spirit of enthusiastically working in production. Thereby, the spiritual life and awareness and responsibility of generations in preserving and promoting the value of national cultural heritage are enhanced; promoting the image of the land and people of Phong Tho in particular and Lai Chau in general.

In the coming time, Phong Tho district will continue to pay attention to preserving ethnic cultures by maintaining and organizing annual festivals. On the other hand, the district will continue to direct communes and towns to encourage people to preserve ethnic cultures associated with tourism development in order to build a healthy cultural life for the people.