Ban Flower Festival is an annual event that takes place in the northwestern province of Vietnam, Dien Bien, where the Ban flower (scientifically known as Bauhinia Variegata) is abundant and symbolic. The festival is usually held in March, when the Ban flowers bloom and cover the mountains and hills with their white petals. The festival is a way of honoring the beauty of nature, the culture of the ethnic groups, and the history of the region.
The Legend
The legend of the ban flower is associated with a tragic but profound love story in the ancient story of the Thai ethnic people in the Northwest region. The story goes: Once upon a time, there was a beautiful Thai girl named Ban, who fell in love with a poor boy in the same village but was forbidden by her parents and forced her to marry a man from a rich family. She sadly and miserably ran into the forest to find her lover, although her voice went hoarse because of calling, she could not find him anywhere. After crossing high mountain ranges, she was exhausted and collapsed next to a rock. Where she lay down, a tree grew with white flowers and buds like a girl’s hand. And soon, that flower grew spreadly throughout the Northwest mountains and forests. People named that flower the ban flower. For many generations, ban flowers have entered the cultural and spiritual life of the people of the Northwest region in general and Dien Bien Province in particular.
The Ban flower is not only a plant, but also a legend, a poem, and a song. The Ban flower represents the loyalty, bravery, and resilience of the people in the northwest. It is also a source of inspiration for many poets and musicians, who have composed verses and melodies to praise its charm and fragrance.
The meaning and the time of Festival
With the purpose of honoring and praising the beauty of ban flowers, affirming the value and position of ban flowers in the cultural and spiritual life of ethnic groups in Dien Bien, since 2014, Dien Bien province has organized this annual event. Ban flower festival takes place in March – the blooming season of ban flowers. The festival is an opportunity to promote the beauty and unique traditional cultural values of the community of 19 ethnic groups in Dien Bien province to domestic and international tourists and friends. Thereby preserving and developing typical types of national cultural heritage; turning heritage values into internal resources to promote tourism; Connecting with other potentials and strengths to contribute to the socio-economic development of Dien Bien province.
Activities of Ban FLower festival
The Ban Flower Festival is a colorful and lively occasion, with various activities and performances that showcase the diversity and richness of the ethnic culture and art. Some of the highlights of the festival are:
- The incense offering ceremony at the Dien Bien Phu War Martyrs Temple, where people pay tribute to the heroes and martyrs who fought and died in the historic battle of Dien Bien Phu in 1954.
- The music and dance shows of the ethnic groups, such as the Thai, the H’Mong, the Dao, and the Kho Mu, who wear their traditional costumes and display their unique instruments and skills including Xoe Thai Arts performances.
- The ethnic culture exchange, where people can learn about the customs, beliefs, and lifestyles of the different ethnic communities, and participate in their games, rituals, and cuisine.
- Performance of traditional costumes of ethnic groups
- The beauty contest, where the contestants, who are young women from the ethnic groups, compete in their grace, talent, and knowledge, and are crowned as the Ban flower queens.
The festival is a wonderful occasion for young Thai men and women to meet each other, dating and chatting the whole day round. The Thai man put the prettiest Ban flowers on the hairs of the girl he loves. Overwhelmed with love, the Thai girl blushes and hides herself behind the green leaves of the springs.
Conclusion
Hoa ban festival contains the typical spiritual and cultural beauty in the life of the Thai ethnic people with rituals to worship such as The worship to “Then” – the supreme deity in the ranks of gods according to the Thai people’s concept; the worship to “Miss Ban” – a legendary female character who represents the virginity of Thai girls and the faithful love of couples; The pray to heaven ghosts, Muong ghosts, mountain ghosts, river ghosts… to bless good weather, lush crops, all things blooming and bearing fruit, happy couples and the warm, peaceful and happy lives of the villagers.
The Ban Flower Festival is a unique and meaningful event that reflects the identity and spirit of the northwest region of Vietnam. It is a part of the rich and diverse heritage of Vietnamese culture and tradition.
We would be pleased to have you visit Dien Bien and take part in Ban Flower Festival on the next occasion.
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