Buzz
On February 5th, 2023, in Vụ Bổn commune, Krông Pắc district (Đắk Lắk province), the People's Committee of Krông Pắc district opened the 12th expanded Traditional Wrestling Competition of Vụ Bổn commune. This is a cultural activity that attracts a large number of locals and tourists in the early days of the new spring.
The Vụ Bổn wrestling competition in 2023 attracted nearly 200 wrestlers from 12 units in Đắk Lắk province and other provinces.
Ms. Nguyễn Thị Kim Oanh – Vice Chairwoman of the People's Committee of Krông Pắc district, Head of the Organizing Committee, stated that the Vụ Bổn wrestling competition in 2023 attracted nearly 200 wrestlers from 12 units in Đắk Lắk province and other provinces such as Đắk Nông, Lâm Đồng, Tây Ninh, Đồng Nai. This is a cultural activity at the beginning of the new spring, serving the spiritual life of the local people and tourists; at the same time, it contributes to preserving, conserving, and promoting the traditional cultural identity, maintaining and developing the wrestling discipline rich in the national cultural identity across Đắk Lắk province in general and Krông Pắc district in particular.
Ms. Nguyễn Thị Kim Oanh – Vice Chairwoman of the People's Committee of Krông Pắc district, Head of the Organizing Committee, delivering a speech at the ceremony
“Amidst several consecutive years unable to organize due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year's wrestling championship has ignited great excitement and anticipation among the local residents for the high-level wrestling matches of local wrestlers and those from neighboring provinces. The emergence of wrestling has attracted people of all ages, from the elderly to the young, men and women, eagerly participating and cheering. Besides being a source of joy and entertainment during the Tet holiday and the coming of spring, wrestling is also a beneficial sport, helping youth, adolescents, and middle-aged individuals enhance their health, determination, and courage to serve their studies and work,” added Ms. Nguyễn Thị Kim Oanh.
The wrestling arena (where the competitions take place) is circular in shape, located on a piece of land in hamlet 8, with a sandy floor elevated about 1 meter above the ground.
Mr. Nguyễn Văn Hạnh (residing in Krông Pắc) mentioned that in the past, when the tournament was first organized, it was on a small scale within the hamlet of North Vietnamese immigrants who came to work in the local economy. Later, the wrestling championship expanded into a large-scale, magnificent event, becoming a festival for both local residents and visitors from near and far. Wrestling is a traditional discipline, a cultural essence of the nation, especially for the Northern people. Despite migrating to live in new areas, the cultural essence has not been eroded but rather maintained and developed extensively, making both themselves and the people in Vụ Bổn commune feel proud. Therefore, the local residents are eagerly looking forward to and excitedly participating in the festival.
Traditional Wrestling Championship – Krông Pắc
Before entering the arena, two individuals of merit and skill are chosen to perform the ritual of wrestling glue. Upon hearing the drum signal, these individuals solemnly conduct ancestral worship ceremonies. This ritual holds profound spiritual significance, signaling the official opening of the championship and expressing wishes for a year of favorable weather, abundant harvests, and national prosperity.
Wrestlers must overcome 7 opponents to secure the final victory.
The wrestling arena (where the competitions take place) is circular in shape, located on a piece of land in hamlet 8, with a sandy floor elevated about 1 meter above the ground to allow convenient viewing for the spectators. As the matches unfold, accompanied by the rhythmic beat of drums, enthusiastic cheers from the surrounding audience urge the wrestlers to compete passionately, creating a lively and exhilarating atmosphere.
In addition to the intense matches, the audience also enjoys the melodious tunes of Quan họ folk songs performed by local artists.
Typically, to emerge as the ultimate winner, wrestlers must engage in 7 rounds of wrestling, meaning they have to overcome 7 opponents. This requires wrestlers to have an extremely resilient physical foundation, understanding the strengths and weaknesses of each opponent to devise appropriate strategies for each round. The journey to glory for a wrestler is arduous, so the eventual victor always commands respect and admiration from everyone.
The Wrestling Championship will continue until the end of February 6th. Within the framework of the championship, various cultural and sports activities such as boat Quan họ singing, volleyball tournament, and Chinese chess tournament are also organized in Vụ Bổn commune to entertain locals and visitors during the Lunar New Year.
Posted by: Thuý Ngọc Đinh
Keyword: Đắk Lắk: Traditional Wrestling Championship in Krông Pắc District Spring 2023
