Gijisi Juldarigi Festival: A Celebration of Tradition and Community
From April 9 to 12, the 'Gijisi Juldarigi Festival' will take place in Dangjin, celebrating four days of cultural heritage.
This festival, which has a history of approximately 500 years, is one of Korea's representative folk festivals, wishing for the community's well-being and abundance.
Designated as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage in 1982 and recognized by UNESCO as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity in 2015, it has gained global recognition for its value.
Held annually in early April, this festival serves as a venue for preserving and passing down our precious traditions. The preparations for the Gijisi Juldarigi Festival began in February.
Located about 200 to 300 meters from the Gijisi Juldarigi Museum is the 'Rope Workshop,' where members of the preservation society have been crafting ropes since February.
Approximately 20 members have been involved in the process, which includes gathering straw, twisting small ropes, installing the rope frame, and creating two massive ropes, each measuring 1 meter in diameter, 100 meters in length, and weighing 20 tons.
The two completed ropes are currently stored side by side. The Gijisi Juldarigi Museum provides a detailed introduction to the rope-making process through small models, making it easy for anyone to understand.
High-quality straw collected from local harvests is used to make the ropes. During the festival, additional straw will be utilized for various experiential activities.
The completed ropes will be displayed during the festival and later moved to the main event site, where they will be used in the festival's highlight event.
The festival begins with a traditional ceremony called 'Jul Gosa' on the first day, followed by various activities including parades, rope ceremonies, and the main event of 'Juldarigi' (tug-of-war) over the four days.
Decorative lanterns announcing the festival hang along the path from the rope workshop to the museum. Thanks to the festive atmosphere, Dangjin City is already filled with excitement for the Gijisi Juldarigi Festival.
Visitors arriving early in the festival are encouraged to admire the giant ropes at the workshop before heading to the museum. The lanterns along the roadside lead to the Gijisi Juldarigi Museum, which features a spacious lawn and a four-story building.
The 'Binyeojang,' where the two ropes meet, symbolizes unity and harmony, wishing for abundant harvests and peace.
The rich history of 500 years, rooted in an agricultural society, is encapsulated within this space. As the festival approaches, the museum is bustling with preparations, including the planting of spring flowers and the installation of lights and stage equipment.
To fully enjoy the Gijisi Juldarigi Festival, it is recommended to explore the museum alongside various festival programs. The museum consists of a permanent exhibition hall on the first floor and a special exhibition hall on the second floor, with the third and fourth floors dedicated to the festival committee's preparations.
At the entrance of the museum, visitors can find brochures about the festival, tourist maps, and other useful information for their visit.
The permanent exhibition is categorized into two main sections, with a total of 13 themes, including stories about the rope and the emotions tied to farming.
Exhibits showcase folk items from agricultural society, along with a recreation of an old traditional market.
Additionally, the farming tools and attire used in the tug-of-war, as well as various tug-of-war cultures from around the world recognized as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, are presented in detail.
The most captivating exhibit is the farming banner, which symbolizes the community during significant agricultural events.
The museum currently displays the farming banners from the villages of Hapdeok and Gijisi. During the Gijisi Juldarigi event, the banners from each village are submitted for a lottery, with a calf awarded as a prize.
As visitors exit the museum and head towards the lawn, they will find a small pond known as Gijisi Tilmot, which historically served as a storage place for the rope frame.
Next to the pond is an exhibition hall where visitors can see the tug-of-war ropes, and a 'straw maze' has been beautifully completed for children as part of the festival preparations.
During the four-day festival, visitors can expect enjoyable experiences. The green lawn will serve as the main stage for the Gijisi Juldarigi Festival.
A vibrant outdoor performance area will be set up in the center, surrounded by various experiential booths for visitors.
The first day will feature traditional rituals wishing for the community's peace and abundance, followed by a grand opening ceremony and celebratory performances on April 10.
On April 11, a 'K-POP Festival' will take place, and on the final day, April 12, the citizen tug-of-war competition will be followed by the main tug-of-war event at 2 PM and 4 PM.
All the excitement of the festival, from the opening ceremony to the K-POP Festival and the tug-of-war, will unfold on this outdoor stage.
Additionally, there will be cooking competitions themed around 'Black and White Chefs,' a makgeolli contest, and street performances, allowing citizens to actively participate and enjoy.
Join us for a traditional folk festival under the blooming spring flowers!
We invite you to the 'Gijisi Juldarigi Festival,' taking place from April 9 to 12.
Source :https://blog.naver.com/dangjin2030/224242532968
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