The Gau Tao Festival aims to thank heaven and earth, and the gods for blessing the family with health and prosperity, and to pray for blessings and fortune for the Mong people in the new year with bountiful crops and full barns of livestock and poultry.

To preserve and promote the Mong ethnic identity, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism presided over and coordinated with the People’s Committee of Ham Yen district to organize the restoration and preservation of the Gau Tao Festival of the Mong people in Yen Lam commune.

Followings are photos of the restoration festival on September 28:

Mong women in Yen Lam commune prepare beautiful costumes for the Gau Tao Festival.

The panpipe is indispensable in the major ceremonies of the Mong people.

The joy of the Mong people in Yen Lam commune when the Gau Tao Festival was restored.

The shaman poured 4 cups of wine to report to the gods in 4 directions.

The shaman held a ceremony to determine the location of the pole.

The strong young men were chosen to erect the pole.

The head of the chicken was turned in which direction, the shaman ordered the pole to be erected facing that direction.

Local students came to watch and participate in the game of throwing con.

The shaman Vang Cha Thao presided over the ceremony.

The crossbow shooting ceremony opened the festival.

The shaman played the flute around the pole.

The shaman prepared the thanksgiving ceremony.

The festival included some folk games with the identity of ethnic minorities.

Spinning tops.