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Festivals not only increases social interaction among various cross section
of the society but also provides a refreshing relief from the monotony and drudgery
of the daily life and inspires us to look past our sorrows and disappointments
in life and revitalize our spirit to move ahead in life. Festivals in any nation
reflect the tradition and cultural heritage. People usually have a tendency
to spontaneously relate festivals with joyous celebrations and festive spirits
but its true significance surpasses its visible outer expression and it forms
an intrinsic aspect of the social perspective of a country and embodies the
religious beliefs and faiths of the people.
Vietnam is one of the most beautiful and fascinating nation of the world and
is a vibrant assimilation of diverse culture and tradition which gets reflected
through the wide range of festivals celebrated in Vietnam. Elephant festival
in Hanoi is the biggest festival in middle highland which is highly popular
among the M'nong ethnic group.
Features of Elephant festival in Hanoi
- Elephant festival in Hanoi is celebrated during spring, in the third
month of lunar calendar.
- Elephant festival in Hanoi is acknowledged as the biggest festival
in the middle highland of Vietnam and this festival is significant for epitomizing
the marital spirit of the M'nong ethnic group.
- M'nong ethnic group are noted all through the country for their valor and
gallant skill in hunting dangerous wild elephants.
- Elephant festival in Hanoi is generally commemorated in the Don village
or in forests in the vicinity of Sevepoi River (Dac Lak) and a distinct elephant
race is the primary attraction of this festival.
- The track of the elephant race in Elephant festival in Hanoi is 1-2
km long and the width is large enough to accommodate ten elephants in a line
and a few big trees adorn the otherwise even and plain race track.
- The elephant race starts with the signal of a wind instrument, horn and the
mahout controls the participating elephants as they head towards the starting
line.
- Once the race starts all the participating elephants starts racing as they
gets immensely excited by drums, gongs and enthusiastic cheers from the spectators.
- As the race finishes off the winner elephants raise their trunks above their
heads to wave to the viewers and strides purposefully wagging their ears softly,
gaping through half-closed eyes to receive sugarcane from their audience.
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