Red Dao ethnic group’s fire dance festival revived in Dien Bien

At the festival (Source: VNA)

The fire dancing festival of the Red Dao ethnic group was revived in Huoi Sau village, Pa Tan commune, Nam Po district, in the northern province of Dien Bien on November 21.

Traditionally, the festival is held between the end of the year and early spring. Each family holds it every two or three years from the 1st day to the fifth day of the first lunar month to pray for peace and prosperity.

The shaman will pray the lunisolar hexagrams for young men who want to take part in the fire dance. If the fire god agrees, they will rush into the red coal pile.

The fire dance is only for males who are deemed strong, skillful, and agile. Each person usually dances for about 3-4 minutes before returning to the altar.

The ceremony usually lasts for several hours.

Dien Bien is home to over 6,000 Dao ethnic people, accounting for over 1 percent of the province’s total population, mostly in Muong Nhe, Nam Po, and Tua Chua districts. In Huoi Sau village, there are 95 Dao ethnic households with more than 430 people.

VNA