Gong culture to be honoured in March

A ceremony to announce the official recognition of Gong Culture as an oral-transmitted masterpiece and intangible cultural heritage of the human will be held by the Ministry of Culture and Information in the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai in March, 2006.

The Grassroots Culture and Information Department will guide the organisation of related activities in the five provinces, and host a Gong gala night at Dien Hong Park, Pleiku City to welcome the success of the Central Highlands Congress of solidarity for ethnic groups. The Vietnam Culture and Art Exhibition Centre will co-ordinate with the department to launch activities at Pleiku Culture and Sport Centre, and in other Central Highlands provinces.

The Gongs are believed to originate from stone-made musical instruments. They are musical instruments made of alloy copper (sometimes alloyed with gold or sliver or black brass). They are of medium or large size, with round-shaped surface, and high edge. The Cong have knobs, but the Chieng have no knobs. They are percussion instruments to be played by cudgels or hands during rituals, weddings, New Year celebrations, housewarming and many other ceremonies. Central Highlanders consider the Gongs to be sacred musical instruments.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has recognised the Gongs as a masterpiece of the oral and intangible heritage of humankind. This is not only an honour for the Central Highlanders, but also a source of pride for Vietnamese.

(Source: VOV)