Han Khuong is a form of traditional cultural activities of the Thai people. The festival is usually held after the harvest in November of each year, starting festival season and welcoming spring.
On these occasions, they excitingly play games, sing, or have drum or gong playing competitions. However, these parties are not organized often because of the considerable cost, just once every one or two years. Differently, “Han Khuong” festival is held much more often, even daily or weekly, the rituals are simple and suit every age, especially young people. “Han Khuong” often takes place at beautiful nights in autumn or winter when local citizens are not busy with the farming. That is also the cotton season in which the Thai women have chances to sing with the boyfriends and perform their sewing, weaving or embroidering skills.
Not long ago, each Thai village has dozens of “Han Khuong”. “Han Khuong” is the spirit of the villages which symbolizes of the prosperity and happiness of Thai society. “Han Khuong” means the stage, which is constructed outdoor; it can be square or rectangular shape with the area of 15-20m2. The stage is 1-1.5m from the ground with bamboo floor and surrounded by bamboo net or lattice bamboo bars .There is a kitchen fire in the center of the floor to provide heat and light to people joining the festival.
Mentioning Han Khuong, the Thai people consider it a dating place with loving songs by Thai boys and girls, which is an ancient cultural activity of Thai people. Han Khuong is a form of choir concert with simple stage. The stage is made from bamboo and woods, surrounded by banisters decorated with various designs. In the middle of the stage, there is a pole called Neu (or Lac xay co) and decorated with colorful seeds.
At four corners, there are four colorfully decorated small Neu poles called Lac xay. The floor is named San Hoa Han Khuong. The hostess named Sao Ton Khuong is often a beautiful and good girl whom everybody likes and who can communicate well and sing beautifully. Four girls standing at four places with stairs are called Sao Lac Xay. They make cotton strings, put ladders near kitchen fire and hang strings in front of the stairs. If boys want to go to the stage, they have to win the girls in a singing contest, and then sing to be invited to sit down and drink tea. Therefore, boys have to select and elect a person who sings the most beautifully. This is time to see communicating ability of boys and girls as well as very loving songs harmony with great music.
Normally, the familiar participants can freely join the party; the challenges are just for strangers. The old people go to “Han Khuong” to share the happiness and teach pretty songs to young children. The children go to ““Han Khuong”” to watch and learn songs and nice behaviors, spinning skills. Songs are mixed with repartee and fun. “Han Khuong” stories seem endless. From the village stories, to the stories of families, of each local citizen, etc. all can become the subjects of the response in “Han Khuong”. Towards the midnight, “Han Khuong” rolls into the depths of spirituality. Many couples have married and lived happily after these memorable festivals.
“Han Khuong” is not only the place for singing where young people meet each other, it is also the place to discuss, exchange ideas of the community. “Han Khuong” is the place to teach young people about the tradition of Thai Community. “Han Khuong” nights make people relaxed and the party atmosphere warm up the Thai villages.
