The Pa Then people's fire dancing festival is recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage.

On the evening of September 26, at Hong Quang commune, the People's Committee of Lam Binh district, Tuyen Quang province held a ceremony to receive the Fire Dancing Ceremony of the Pa Then people in Hong Quang commune, Lam Binh district, which was recognized and included in the list of National Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Representative of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism awarded the Certificate of Fire Dancing Ceremony of the Pa Then people as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage to representative of Lam Binh district leaders.

The Pa Then people in Tuyen Quang mainly reside in Thuong Minh village, Hong Quang commune, Lam Binh district and Linh Phu commune, Chiem Hoa district, with about 840 people. The Pa Then people's fire dancing festival is usually held annually at the transition between the old year and the new year or during the rice harvest in October and November of the lunar calendar. According to the ancient Pa Then people, organizing fire dancing at this time is to thank the gods for blessing a year of good crops, a prosperous life, and healthy villagers without illness. The fire will also help drive away evil spirits, demons and the cold of winter.

Photo caption — *Fire dancing ritual of the Pa Then people.*

The fire dancing ceremony has its own identity of the Pa Then community, has a strong and profound impact on the spiritual life, on the shaping of the soul and character of the Pa Then people, demonstrating the extraordinary strength of people who dare to face difficulties, challenges, and drive away bad luck. At the ceremony, the representative of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism awarded the certificate of the Pa Then Fire Dancing Ceremony as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage to the representative of Lam Binh district leaders.

Shaman Phu Van Thanh, Thuong Minh village, Hong Quang commune, Lam Binh district said that the fire jumping ceremony is to thank the gods for blessing a year of good crops, a prosperous life, healthy villagers without illness, thereby contributing to educating the traditions and spirit of strong community cohesion for generations of Pa Then people. In the first part, the shaman will invite the gods to participate in the ceremony and enter the students. The second part is the fire jumping ritual, a large fire has been lit and burned into red hot coals. The participants will take turns jumping with the hot coals, using both their bare hands and feet until the fire dies out. The most mysterious thing about the fire jumping ceremony is that the Pa Then boys bravely jump with their bare feet on the hot coals without getting burned.

In order to do a good job of preserving, maintaining and promoting the value of heritage sustainably, attracting tourists, Lam Binh district, Tuyen Quang province has stepped up propaganda to make people aware that preserving and promoting the value of heritage brings benefits in economic development; improving people's lives, contributing to the socio-economic development of the locality.

Up to now, Tuyen Quang province has 16 heritages included in the List of National Intangible Cultural Heritage by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. Many festivals have been restored and held annually, attracting a large number of people and tourists to attend.

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