Materials
festivals
ICH Materials 493
Photos
(290)-
Nooruz
The Nooruz holiday symbolizes the celebration of the New Year according to the solar calendar, on the vernal equinox (March 21). It marks the arrival of something new in people's lives, their hope for a happy and prosperous year. This is one of the most important holidays in Kyrgyzstan, bringing together everyone, regardless of age and ethnicity.
Kyrgyzstan -
Ngajat
Iban Ngajat Warrior Dance.
Malaysia -
The Music of Tumbuk Kalang
The farmers’ community assumes that the festive season is the harvesting season. At this time, they are in jolly mood because they obtain revenue from their own sweat poured into their paddy fields all these while. It has been normal that when every time paddy harvesting season approaches the farmers organise a paddy flaking festivity made merrier by a game of Tumbuk Kalang. Often this game is held house to house and lasts for a number of evenings. The musical instruments for the Tumbuk Kalang performance are a set of caklempong, gong, paddy pestles and hand-held drummettes.
Malaysia -
The Ngajat Dance
The origin of this indigenous dance is not clearly known but it is believed to have been in existence along with the Iban tribe since the 16th Century. The Ngajat dance is believed to have been performed by warriors on their return from battles. This dance is now performed to celebrate the most important harvest festival called ‘Gawai’, to welcome important guests to the longhouses and so on. The male dancers wear large feathers as part of their headgear, hold an ornate and long shield in their hand with chains, beads and a loincloth called the ‘cawat’. The female dancers have an elaborate headdress, chains, beads and a ‘dress’ that reaches to below their knees with intricate weaving. Traditionally this dance was only performed by male dancers but not anymore. The dance is arranged straight lines and in a circle and does involve dramatic leaps and jumps performed by the male dancers. Gongs and other ethnic percussion instruments such as the ‘enkeromong’, ‘bendai’, ‘canang’ and ‘dumbak or ketebong’ provide the music. There are in fact several types of Ngajat dances, such as Ngajat Induk, Ngajat bebunoh, Ngajat Lesong, Ngajat Semain, Ngajat Berayah and Ngaja Ngemai Antu Pala.
Malaysia -
Navruz
Navruz is an ancient and widespread holiday in Tajikistan, and it is celebrated on the vernal equinox, the beginning of the solar year and the new year according to the Iranian calendar, as well as calendars of several other nationalities. Navruz traditionally celebrates the awakening of nature and the beginning of agricultural work.
Tajikistan -
The Viet Belief in Mother Goddesses of the Three Realms
Three Mother Goddesses: Mother Goddess of Heaven (in the middle, red color), Mother Goddess of Forest (on the left, green color), and Mother Goddess of Water (on the right, white color). \n2014. Photo by Dương Hồng Đức; \n©2014 Viet Nam National Institute of Culture and Arts Studies
Viet Nam -
The Viet Belief in Mother Goddesses of the Three Realms
The petition ceremony before a spirit possession ritual at Vân Cát Palace, Kim Thái commune, Vụ Bản district, Nam Định province. \n2014. Photo by Nguyễn Văn Huynh; \n©2014 Viet Nam National Institute of Culture and Arts Studies
Viet Nam -
The Viet Belief in Mother Goddesses of the Three Realms
The incarnation of the Sixth Dame at a spirit possession ritual in Tiên Hương Palace, Kim Thái commune, Vụ Bản district, Nam Định province.\n2014. Photo: Nguyễn Trung Bình; \n©2014 Viet Nam National Institute of Culture and Arts Studies
Viet Nam -
The Viet Belief in Mother Goddesses of the Three Realms
The transmission of Beliefs in the Mother Goddesses at a private temple. \n2014. Photo by Nguyễn Văn Huynh ; \n©2014 Viet Nam National Institute of Culture and Arts Studies
Viet Nam -
Traditional Tsagaan Sar Festival
Mongolians celebrate the traditional Tsagaan Sar Festival as a passing of one year and a welcoming of a new one. This is the triple celebration for passing of the severe winter safe-and-sound, welcoming a new year, and a celebration of getting wiser. Before the end of the old year, Mongolians endeavor to repay debts and resolve disagreements so as to enter the forthcoming year without lingering resentment or misfortune. The tradition of Tsagaan Sar Festival comprises of complex proceedings as bituulekh (to celebrate the day before Tsagaan sar), preparing the banquet, dairy products and mutton for the feast, zolgokh (greet each other), honoring the elders and telling well-wishing, propitious words to each other. The celebration of Tsagaan Sar is a fifteen-day period of ‘whitening’, when family and kin gather in a respectful atmosphere to renew and solidify ties, particularly between young and old.
Mongolia -
The Ngajat Dance
The origin of this ethnic group dance is not known but it is strongly believed to be in existence along with the Iban ethnic group since the 16th Century. The Ngajat dance is believed to been performed by warriors on their return from battles. This dance is now performed to celebrate the most significant harvest festival called ‘Gawai’, to welcome important guests to the longhouses for the celebration. The male dancers wear large feathers as part of their headgear, hold an ornate and long shield in their hand with chains, beads and a loincloth called the ‘cawat’. The female dancers have an elaborate headdress, chains, beads and a ‘dress’ that reaches to below their knees with intricate weaving. Traditionally this dance was only performed by male dancers but been innovated and perform by all. The dance is arranged in straight lines and a circle and does involve dramatic leaps and jumps performed by the male dancers. Gongs and other ethnic percussion instruments such as the ‘enkeromong’, ‘bendai’, ‘canang’ and ‘dumbak’ or ‘ketebong’ assemble the music. There are in fact several types of Ngajat dances, such as Ngajat Induk, Ngajat Bebunoh, Ngajat Lesong, Ngajat Semain, Ngajat Berayah and Ngajat Ngemai Antu Pala.\n\nThe ‘Ngajat Lesung’ for example is one of the famous Iban traditional Ngajat dance in Sarawak. The knees are bent and kept close together as they twist from side to side, ending with a simple tap of the heel on the ground. The arms move from left to right in front of the body. The dance is done gracefully. The hornbill, an iconic bird of Sarawak, symbolizing all the movements. The male dancer in this dance represents the warrior who shows off his strength by biting a wooden mortar called the ‘lesung kayu’ with his teeth while dancing. It weighs about seven kilogrammes.
Malaysia -
The Viet Belief in Mother Goddesses of the Three Realms
The procession of the Buddhist Scripture at Dầy Palace festival, Kim Thái commune, Vụ Bản district, Nam Định provincen\n2013. Photo by Lã Quý Tráng; \n©2014 Viet Nam National Institute of Culture and Arts Studies
Viet Nam