Nuggets Festival

Organized in the September of the lunar calendar every year, the pounding festival in Kunlun commune, Na Hang district (Tuyen Quang) is a unique traditional cultural activity of the Tay ethnic people in the area.

In the autumn weather, the nuggets festival not only started the new harvest but also a time for the people here to have the opportunity to exchange cultural, increasing solidarity.

With over 60% of the Tay ethnic people living, Kunlun commune, Na Hang district, Tuyen Quang province has a large field surrounded by mountain ranges. This is a favorable condition for people here to develop agriculture, especially developing sticky rice.

Golden flower glutinous rice varieties have been grown in Kunlun for many generations, when the rice fields are first, the Tay people often open a festival of crushing nuggets, also known as the moon and second festival. The crushing festival is the New Year to celebrate the moon, celebrating the new rice season in October to prepare for the Lunar New Year every year.

The pounding festival is not only meaningful to agricultural producers but also spiritual significance. Because, after the end of the harvest season, farmers want to have fragrant nuggets to offer their ancestors, praying to heaven and earth to always rain and wind, helping them to have good luck in labor and production.

When the festival starts, people embark on making nuggets, the rice pineapples are broken down and put on fresh bamboo blisters, then put them on the oven's mouth.

Through the skillful hands of the women and sisters, the rice pineapple is flipped and overturned continuously to ensure the sticky rice seeds evenly. In order for the nuggets to not stick, greasy, the grain must let cool then bring it into the mortar.

Mr. Nguyen Van Ich, Con Lon commune, Na Hang district said that to get a batch of nuggets, it takes about 20-30 minutes. When making nuggets, we have to rub and let the nuggets cool and then pound, if still warm, must be gently pounded, making sure the nuggets are not crushed.

To keep the nuggets delicious, flexible, nuggets are carefully wrapped in banana or dong leaves. From nuggets can be processed many dishes such as sticky rice, rice cake, nuggets ... dishes bold cultural identity of highlands.

With traditional rituals, the nuggets festival has been bringing to the locals, new experienced visitors, the unique characteristics of a long -standing festival.

Mr. Ma Van Khanh, a tourist from Yen Hoa commune, Na Hang district, said: It was a long time for him to have the opportunity to fully enjoy this festival so he felt very happy. He wants the festival to be increasingly expanded and many tourists from near and far are known.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Hoa, a tourist from Thai Nguyen, said that this is the first time she participated in the nuggets festival. Unlike many places, the pounding festival in Kunlun brings in the breath of the Tay people here - the owner of the festival. In particular, nuggets made very delicious, aromatic, with bold homeland identity.

Mr. Nguyen Xuan Bach, Chairman of the People's Committee of Con Lon commune, said: The restoration of the nuggets festival to preserve and promote traditional cultural values, contributing to enriching the spiritual life of the people.

This is also an opportunity for the younger generation to learn experiences to make nuggets and preserve the traditional cuisine of the locality. From there, promote socio -economic development as well as tourism development .../.