Pao ball throwing is not just a game

The pao ball is round, about the size of an orange, sewn from many brightly colored pieces of linen fabric and filled with flax seeds inside. The Mong ethnic people believe that flax seeds symbolize fertility, abundance and prosperity. Therefore, in order to make a beautiful pao ball, the woman must sew very skillfully, with tight, taut seams that fit perfectly in her hand.

Ms. Lau Thi Ly from Yen Chau commune shared: “The first criterion for Mong ethnic men when looking for a wife is to look at the girl’s dexterity, from weaving fabric and embroidering skirts to sewing pao balls. A good pao ball should not be too hard or too soft to hold”. A good pao ball should be neither too hard nor too soft. A capable Mong ethnic girl must know how to make a beautiful pao ball. Although many people now use tennis balls or rubber balls for convenience, the pao ball sewn from fabric and stuffed with flax seeds truly has soul and retaining its traditional value”.

According to the elders, in the past, a young woman of marriageable age who didn’t know how to make the pao ball would hardly catch the eye of a young man. Therefore, the pao ball is both a toy and a measure of the skill and character of a Mong ethnic girl. Young girls usually sew small, simple black pao balls; while young women of courtship will make large, colorful pao balls, showcasing their vitality and grace.

Pao throwing is usually a lively event during the Lunar New Year, the harvest festival or at market days. On a wide open field, to the sounds of the Mong flute and reed pipe, young men and women stand in two rows facing each other, 5-8 meters apart, tossing and catching pao balls back and forth rhythmically, creating a distinctive cultural atmosphere of the Mong ethnic people.

Mr. Song A Chia from Long Sap commune said: “I met my wife thanks to the pao throwing game. That day, at the spring festival, I saw her throwing pao skillfully and she had such a charming smile”. I pretended not to pay the pao ball, then found an excuse to go to their house. That’s how we became husband and wife”.

During the Lunar New Year celebrations, in the highland villages inhabited by the Mong ethnic people, the sight of dozens of young men and women playing pao (a traditional Mong game) in the courtyard of the village’s cultural center, an open field or a sports field has become a unique cultural activity that attracts tourists. Sometimes players simply want to test their dexterity and sometimes the pao ball serves as a “bridge” for young men and women to find each other. The Mong ethnic people also have a love song: “You throw the pao, I don’t catch it/I don’t love you, the pao ball falls...”. In that rhythm, if a young man liked a girl, he would deliberately keep the pao ball, using it as an excuse to bring it to her house to get acquainted and express his feelings. Although it’s just a game, pao throwing holds profound humanistic meaning, fostering connection between individuals, families, and communities.

Mr. Song A Tua, from Chieng Son commune, affirmed: “Throwing pao ball is not just an entertainment game. It is also a cultural feature that creates the identity of the Mong ethnic people. Through the pao ball game, young men and women get to know each other and the community becomes more united. Now, many local festivals have revived the pao ball game as an indispensable part of the festivities”.

The pao throwing game has been incorporated into community cultural activities in many localities in Son La province, becoming a “highlight” in spring festivals such as: The Peach Blossom Festival, the Moc Chau Culture and Tourism Festival or the Independence Day on September 2^nd. The open fields are filled with vibrant brocade dresses, the sound of cheerful laughter, the pao balls soaring in the air - all creating a vivid cultural tapestry of the Northwest mountains.

Today, along with the khen (a type of bamboo flute), flute and brocade skirt, the pao ball throwing game has become a symbol of the rich cultural identity of the Mong ethnic people. That simple game embodies beliefs and aspirations for happiness and prosperity, while also demonstrating strong community bonds./.