Dano Jojeonje (Morning Ritual) is held every morning at 10:00 AM from May 4th to May 8th of the lunar calendar, when the Danoje Festival takes place, at the Dano altar. As the Danoje Festival is a ritual to pray for a bountiful harvest and peace throughout the Gangneung and Yeongdong regions, the heads of organizations and institutions in Gangneung serve as heongwan (ritual officials) to perform the sacrificial rites. Confucian-style ancestral rituals are male-centric rituals, mainly performed with men taking an interest in praying for the well-being of the entire local community and the prosperity of their livelihoods.

Gangneung Danogut is the core traditional ritual of the Gangneung Danoje Festival, a Daedonggut-style (grand communal ritual) gut that serves Guksa Seonghwangshin (the Guardian Deity of Daegwallyeong Pass) and invites various other deities.

The ritual begins with the Shinju Bitgi (brewing the sacred liquor) on the 5th day of the 4th lunar month, and the sacred tree of Daegwallyeong is escorted on the 15th day of the 4th lunar month. Then, through the Yeongsin Haengcha (Welcoming the Deities Procession) on the 3rd day of the 5th lunar month, the sacred tree is enshrined at the Namdaecheon Stream Gutdang (ritual hall), after which various gut rituals are performed continuously from morning till evening until the day Dano ends.

A key feature of Gangneung Danogut is that it is performed by seseubmu (hereditary shamans) who have inherited the shamanic profession through generations within their families. Unlike those who undergo spiritual possession, these hereditary shamans are professional shamanic priests who perform rituals based on the shamanic knowledge and skills passed down to them since childhood by parents, siblings, or relatives, possessing outstanding artistic talent.

In Gangneung Danogut, about 20 gutgeori (ritual procedures) are performed, serving a wide variety of deities. These include the main deities—Guksa Seonghwangshin and Guksa Yeoseonghwangshin (the Female Guardian Deity)—as well as the Mountain Deity, the deity overseeing childbirth and production, the deity granting longevity, the deities protecting the village and household, the deity granting wealth, and the deity warding off diseases. To truly witness and understand the meaning of the Gangneung Danoje Festival, one must see the Danogut.

Gunungjangsugut always starts as the first gut (shamanic ritual) on the day of Dano. It is performed during the hour of Osi (the hour of the Horse, 11 AM to 1 PM), when the yang energy is said to be at its strongest. Gunungjangsugut is also referred to as "Notdongugut," and the character of Gunung is quite complex. It is served as a trade deity, an agricultural deity, an envoy deity, or a deity of generals, and also appears as a deity that enters from the outside to ward off evil spirits; however, the Gunung of the Gangneung Danogut has a strong character as a deity of generals (warriors).

When the recitation of the shamanic song (muga) concludes, the shaman demonstrates the divine power by holding three heavy brass basins (notdongi) in her mouth and lifting them up. Many people visit the gutdang (ritual hall) specifically to witness the scene of lifting the 20kg brass basins with the mouth.

Gangneung Danogut is the core traditional ritual of the Gangneung Danoje Festival, a Daedonggut-style (grand communal ritual) gut that serves Guksa Seonghwangshin (the Guardian Deity of Daegwallyeong Pass) and invites various other deities.

The ritual begins with the Shinju Bitgi (brewing the sacred liquor) on the 5th day of the 4th lunar month, and the sacred tree of Daegwallyeong is escorted on the 15th day of the 4th lunar month. Then, through the Yeongsin Haengcha (Welcoming the Deities Procession) on the 3rd day of the 5th lunar month, the sacred tree is enshrined at the Namdaecheon Stream Gutdang (ritual hall), after which various gut rituals are performed continuously from morning till evening until the day Dano ends.

A key feature of Gangneung Danogut is that it is performed by seseubmu (hereditary shamans) who have inherited the shamanic profession through generations within their families. Unlike those who undergo spiritual possession, these hereditary shamans are professional shamanic priests who perform rituals based on the shamanic knowledge and skills passed down to them since childhood by parents, siblings, or relatives, possessing outstanding artistic talent.

In Gangneung Danogut, about 20 gutgeori (ritual procedures) are performed, serving a wide variety of deities. These include the main deities—Guksa Seonghwangshin and Guksa Yeoseonghwangshin (the Female Guardian Deity)—as well as the Mountain Deity, the deity overseeing childbirth and production, the deity granting longevity, the deities protecting the village and household, the deity granting wealth, and the deity warding off diseases. To truly witness and understand the meaning of the Gangneung Danoje Festival, one must see the Danogut.

Because Gangneung is a coastal city, Shimcheonggut is a gut (shamanic ritual) performed to comfort the soul of Shimcheong, who fell into the sea, with the prayer to give birth to dutiful children with filial piety like Shimcheong, and to brighten the eyes so that fishermen can catch fish well.

The content of Shimcheonggut is not very different from that of the pansori Shimcheongga. Set to the accompaniment of the janggu (hourglass drum), the female shaman (munyeo) sings the life story of the filial daughter Shimcheong, who sacrificed herself to make her father open his eyes.

When performing Shimcheonggut, it is conducted while holding a sondae (a ritual staff) decorated with cut Hanji (traditional Korean paper) and flowers, and people believe that if they wash their eyes with the window paper (changhoji) tied to the sondae, their eyes will become clear. At the very end, the part where the blind man tells fortunes and opens his eyes is performed like a skit.

Gangneung Danogut is the core traditional ritual of the Gangneung Danoje Festival, a Daedonggut-style (grand communal ritual) gut that serves Guksa Seonghwangshin (the Guardian Deity of Daegwallyeong Pass) and invites various other deities.

The ritual begins with the Shinju Bitgi (brewing the sacred liquor) on the 5th day of the 4th lunar month, and the sacred tree of Daegwallyeong is escorted on the 15th day of the 4th lunar month. Then, through the Yeongsin Haengcha (Welcoming the Deities Procession) on the 3rd day of the 5th lunar month, the sacred tree is enshrined at the Namdaecheon Stream Gutdang (ritual hall), after which various gut rituals are performed continuously from morning till evening until the day Dano ends.

A key feature of Gangneung Danogut is that it is performed by seseubmu (hereditary shamans) who have inherited the shamanic profession through generations within their families. Unlike those who undergo spiritual possession, these hereditary shamans are professional shamanic priests who perform rituals based on the shamanic knowledge and skills passed down to them since childhood by parents, siblings, or relatives, possessing outstanding artistic talent.

In Gangneung Danogut, about 20 gutgeori (ritual procedures) are performed, serving a wide variety of deities. These include the main deities—Guksa Seonghwangshin and Guksa Yeoseonghwangshin (the Female Guardian Deity)—as well as the Mountain Deity, the deity overseeing childbirth and production, the deity granting longevity, the deities protecting the village and household, the deity granting wealth, and the deity warding off diseases. To truly witness and understand the meaning of the Gangneung Danoje Festival, one must see the Danogut.

Seongjugut is a gut (shamanic ritual) that serves Seongju, the deity overseeing the household. When performing Seongjugut, the female shaman (munyeo) wears a gat (traditional Korean hat) to conduct the ritual, and the reason for this is that "underneath the gatmeori (the roof radical 宀), there is the character for woman (yeo, 女), which forms the character for peace (an, 安)." By having a female shaman wear a gat, it symbolizes peace (an, 安). This embodies the wish for the absolute peace and tranquility (angwa-taepyeong, 安過太平) of the household.

The content of the shamanic song (muga) describes Seongju, who was born in the land of Andong, Gyeongsang-do Province, growing good trees to build a house and then living an abundant life.

Gangneung Danogut is the core traditional ritual of the Gangneung Danoje Festival, a Daedonggut-style (grand communal ritual) gut that serves Guksa Seonghwangshin (the Guardian Deity of Daegwallyeong Pass) and invites various other deities.

The ritual begins with the Shinju Bitgi (brewing the sacred liquor) on the 5th day of the 4th lunar month, and the sacred tree of Daegwallyeong is escorted on the 15th day of the 4th lunar month. Then, through the Yeongsin Haengcha (Welcoming the Deities Procession) on the 3rd day of the 5th lunar month, the sacred tree is enshrined at the Namdaecheon Stream Gutdang (ritual hall), after which various gut rituals are performed continuously from morning till evening until the day Dano ends.

A key feature of Gangneung Danogut is that it is performed by seseubmu (hereditary shamans) who have inherited the shamanic profession through generations within their families. Unlike those who undergo spiritual possession, these hereditary shamans are professional shamanic priests who perform rituals based on the shamanic knowledge and skills passed down to them since childhood by parents, siblings, or relatives, possessing outstanding artistic talent.

In Gangneung Danogut, about 20 gutgeori (ritual procedures) are performed, serving a wide variety of deities. These include the main deities—Guksa Seonghwangshin and Guksa Yeoseonghwangshin (the Female Guardian Deity)—as well as the Mountain Deity, the deity overseeing childbirth and production, the deity granting longevity, the deities protecting the village and household, the deity granting wealth, and the deity warding off diseases. To truly witness and understand the meaning of the Gangneung Danoje Festival, one must see the Danogut.

Jishingut is a gut (shamanic ritual) that serves the deities ruling the earth. Jishin is referred to as "Teoju" (the deity of the site); it is a deity that takes charge of the household site, the village, or the site of the nation, warding off misfortune and granting wealth and good fortune (jaebok, 財福) to the household, the village, and the nation.

Gangneung Danogut is the core traditional ritual of the Gangneung Danoje Festival, a Daedonggut-style (grand communal ritual) gut that serves Guksa Seonghwangshin (the Guardian Deity of Daegwallyeong Pass) and invites various other deities.

The ritual begins with the Shinju Bitgi (brewing the sacred liquor) on the 5th day of the 4th lunar month, and the sacred tree of Daegwallyeong is escorted on the 15th day of the 4th lunar month. Then, through the Yeongsin Haengcha (Welcoming the Deities Procession) on the 3rd day of the 5th lunar month, the sacred tree is enshrined at the Namdaecheon Stream Gutdang (ritual hall), after which various gut rituals are performed continuously from morning till evening until the day Dano ends.

A key feature of Gangneung Danogut is that it is performed by seseubmu (hereditary shamans) who have inherited the shamanic profession through generations within their families. Unlike those who undergo spiritual possession, these hereditary shamans are professional shamanic priests who perform rituals based on the shamanic knowledge and skills passed down to them since childhood by parents, siblings, or relatives, possessing outstanding artistic talent.

In Gangneung Danogut, about 20 gutgeori (ritual procedures) are performed, serving a wide variety of deities. These include the main deities—Guksa Seonghwangshin and Guksa Yeoseonghwangshin (the Female Guardian Deity)—as well as the Mountain Deity, the deity overseeing childbirth and production, the deity granting longevity, the deities protecting the village and household, the deity granting wealth, and the deity warding off diseases. To truly witness and understand the meaning of the Gangneung Danoje Festival, one must see the Danogut.

Chukwongut is a gut (shamanic ritual) that offers prayers and blessings for the audience participating in the gut. It prays for the comfort and peace of households, the well-being of descendants, and abundance. When the Chukwongut is performed, one can see many elderly residents of Gangneung coming forward to burn sacred paper (soji) and make their wishes.

Gangneung Green Silver Orchestra is a wind instrument performance group founded in 1998 under the name 'Samakhwe' by seven music lovers who loved music. The following year, as the number of members increased, the name was changed to its current one, and members with an average age of 73 are still actively performing with passion.

The orchestra participates in various domestic and international events and festivals, focusing on Gangneung, and contributes to promoting the region as a pure private volunteer organization. In particular, they actively participated in promotional activities for the bid and successful hosting of the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics, and performed in places such as Mount Baekdu, Mount Geumgang, China, and Japan.

Since its founding, the orchestra has participated in the Gangneung Danoje Festival every year without exception, and is also active in the Sintongdaegil Gilnori (Street Parade) event. Members gather steadily twice a week to practice, showing their passion and sincerity for music. Especially in this performance, they plan to widely promote Gangneung by showcasing a special stage together with a singer belonging to the orchestra.

<Dano Paldo Yuram! and> is a journey that embroiders the philosophy of 'pulm' (unwinding/releasing) harbored by the Gangneung Danoje Festival. Korean Traditional Music LAB Hanyang Paldo is a group where young artists from the eight provinces gather to unravel han (sorrow) through sound, misfortune through blessings, excitement through dance, and memory through folk songs.

As if washing away old misfortunes in iris water, the journey opens with 'Paldo Chugwon' (Blessings of the Eight Provinces) to pray for the peace of the world, and liberates our hearts with 'Sinawi', which weaves momentary inspiration into an improvised melody. 'Pansori', containing the humor of the common people that has crossed eras, and the dynamic drumming of 'Jindo Bukchum' (Jindo Drum Dance) that awakens the vitality of the earth, deliver a deep resonance within the heart.

Before long, reaching the end of the journey, it arrives at 'Paldo Minyo' (Folk Songs of the Eight Provinces), where the sentiments of various regions across the country harmonize into one, finally completing a moment of breathing together across regions and generations. On Dano, the greenest of the 24 solar terms, we invite you to the sound journey of Korean Traditional Music LAB Hanyang Paldo, which reflects on the culture of the past to awaken us today.

The Gangneung Dialect Competition, hosted by the Gangwon Ilbo, is a historic event that has established itself as the highlight of the Gangneung Danoje Festival for over 30 years since it first began in 1994.

The Gangneung dialect (saturi) melts not only the region's history and culture but also invisible cultural resources such as the local residents' affection, inspiration, and sense of identity. Therefore, for the Gangneung people who look forward to the Gangneung Dialect Competition, watching the performances of the competition participants becomes a festival where they meet their fathers, mothers, grandfathers, and grandmothers, feel a sense of identity, and cry and laugh together.

From young children to elderly folks, various age groups are participating, conveying the joys and sorrows of living in Gangneung through the rough yet affectionate Gangneung dialect. Participants who have passed the preliminaries and made it to the finals present sketches (contes), songs, musicals, and speeches utilizing the Gangneung dialect, delivering laughter and deep emotion to the audience. Attention is focused on 'who will become the top master of the Gangneung dialect this year?' at the Gangneung Dialect Competition, which produces citizen stars along with abundant topics of conversation every year.

Gangneung Dano-gut (Shamanic Ritual) plays a pivotal role in leading both the ritualistic aspects and the overarching festival atmosphere of the Gangneung Danoje Festival.

〈Eosija Osija (Come One, Come All)〉 is a stage performance that creatively reorganizes and adapts the various theatrical and performative elements of the Gangneung Dano-gut. The title, Eosija Osija, refers to the traditional mouth-sounds (Gueum, or vocal music) chanted by the shamanic musicians during the ritual. It carries the profound meaning of "inviting heaven, earth, and all living beings," symbolizing an "open ritual space" where gods, humans, and the audience all actively participate together.

The performance of 〈Eosija Osija〉 begins with a Binari—a prayer for personal longevity and household peace—and progresses through a captivating sequence: the Seojongut (Ritual for the Buddha/Deity of Childbirth), Puneori (Dynamic Rhythmic Pattern), Deureonggaengi (Complex Shamanic Beats), and the Chorongdeungchum (Silk Lantern Dance). Ultimately, it unfolds as an interactive, participatory ritual performance where the audience and performers mingle as one.

The 43rd Gangneung Nongak Competition, held at the 2026 Gangneung Danoje Festival, is an exciting folk competition that inherits the tradition of Gangneung Nongak, a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, and strengthens the harmony of the local community.

This competition, where one can feel the dignity of a national intangible cultural heritage, coincides with the Gangneung Danoje Festival period and is scheduled to vividly showcase the cheerful rhythm and dynamic nongsapuri (farming movements) unique to the Yeongdong region.

The splendid nongaknori (farmers' music performance) staged by village-level nongak troupes and pungmul bands, along with the unique performances that can only be seen in nongsapuri nongak, will present unforgettable deep emotion and the beauty of our sound to visitors.

This competition, which people of all ages and genders harmoniously enjoy together, will be a precious opportunity to confirm not only the modern succession of traditional arts but also the passion of the future generation, youth, all in one place. One can confirm the pride and succession enthusiasm of Gangneung citizens for Gangneung Nongak.

[Dano Puppet Theater] is a professional puppet theater affiliated with the Gangneung Danoje Preservation Association, created for various creative performances utilizing the original contents of the Gangneung Danoje Festival. Since 2009, it has been presenting the Gwanno Mask Dance as a puppet show so that people of all ages and genders can enjoy it easily and playfully.

Gwanno Mask Puppet Show is a work newly recreated into a spoken (yuyeon) puppet show by adding humor and wit-filled dialogue to the Gangneung Danoje Festival's "Gwanno Mask Dance," which is the only traditional non-verbal (mueon) mask drama in Korea centered primarily on dance and movements. Because it has dialogue, it is easy to understand, making it a performance that everyone, young and old, can enjoy easily and delightfully. Puppeteers who control the marionettes, a narrator (byeonsa), and musicians decorate the stage together.

also follows the composition of the original Gwanno Mask Dance exactly in terms of its characters and plot development.

It is a stage where you can encounter colorful folk performances from various countries around the world in one place. Through each country's unique traditional dance and music, you can enjoy the Gangneung Danoje Festival as a global cultural festival.

This mask play was traditionally performed during the Gangneung Danoje Festival, which is inscribed on both the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity and South Korea's National Intangible Cultural Heritage. It is a mask drama that was originally performed by Gwanno—slaves belonging to government offices during the Joseon Dynasty—who conveyed stories through humor and satire despite their strict social limitations. As South Korea's only traditional non-verbal mask drama, the narrative is expressed entirely through dance and gestures without any dialogue.

The main characters include the Yangban Gwangdae (Aristocrat Clown), Somae Gaksi (Young Lady), two Sisi Ttakttaki (Interfering Demons), and two Jangjamari (Fertility Spirits), accompanied by the musicians who lead the rhythm of the drama.

The performance consists of a total of five acts (Gwajang):
Act 1: The Jangjamari appear to liven up the atmosphere and prepare the stage.
Act 2: The romantic courtship between the Yangban Gwangdae and Somae Gaksi unfolds.
Act 3: The Sisi Ttakttaki disrupt and interfere with their romance.
Act 4: A major commotion erupts following a suicide attempt by Somae Gaksi to prove her innocence.
Act 5: The drama concludes with a reconciliation between the Yangban Gwangdae and Somae Gaksi, where all characters and the audience come together to dance, celebrate, and harmonize.

In Gangneung-si, various organizations learn and preserve the lineage of the Gwanno Mask Drama, and an annual stage is provided during the Danoje Festival for them to showcase their skills. Let’s enjoy the performance by "JOM-ara," a youth Gwanno Mask Drama preservation group under the Gangneung Danoje Preservation Association!

This mask play was traditionally performed during the period of the "Gangneung Danoje Festival," which is inscribed on both the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity and South Korea's National Intangible Cultural Heritage. It is a mask drama that was originally performed by Gwanno—slaves belonging to government offices during the Joseon Dynasty—who conveyed stories through humor and satire despite their strict social limitations. As South Korea's only traditional non-verbal mask drama, the narrative is expressed entirely through dance and gestures without any dialogue.

The main characters include the Yangban Gwangdae (Aristocrat Clown), Somae Gaksi (Young Lady), two Sisi Ttakttaki (Interfering Demons), and two Jangjamari (Fertility Spirits), accompanied by the musicians who lead the rhythm of the drama.

The performance consists of a total of five acts (Gwajang):
Act 1: The Jangjamari appear to liven up the atmosphere and prepare the stage.
Act 2: The romantic courtship between the Yangban Gwangdae and Somae Gaksi unfolds.
Act 3: The Sisi Ttakttaki disrupt and interfere with their romance.
Act 4: A major commotion erupts following a suicide attempt by Somae Gaksi to prove her innocence.
Act 5: The drama concludes with a reconciliation between the Yangban Gwangdae and Somae Gaksi, where all characters and the audience come together to dance, celebrate, and harmonize.

In Gangneung-si, various organizations learn and preserve the lineage of the Gwanno Mask Drama, and an annual stage is provided during the Danoje Festival for them to showcase their skills. Among them, the Gwanno Mask Drama performed by the Gangneung Danoje Preservation Association is considered the closest to the authentic origin, representing the true history and tradition of the Gangneung Danoje Festival.

“A musical flavor richer than any local harvest! The Gugak Dream-Walkers, 'Guknaesan (100% Homegrown),' have arrived in Gangneung!”

[Gugak Dream-Walkers: Guknaesan] is a performing arts group that builds upon the traditional roots of Korean music while adding a contemporary touch, creating innovative Gugak content that resonates with modern audiences.

〈Dano: Today, We Play All Out!〉 is a creative Gugak performance that modernizes the Danoje Festival's core themes of wishing, healing, and absolute joy. By adding a sleek, modern twist to traditional repertoires—such as the evil-expelling, blessing-wishing Chwita Binari and regional folk songs—this show features a fantastic collaboration of dynamic traditional performance (Yeonhui) and thrilling tightrope walking (Jultagi) that will push the festival's energy to its absolute peak.

Come and immerse yourself in the fiery, spicy charm of Gugak presented by 'Guknaesan' at the thousand-year-old Gangneung Danoje Festival!

Gangneung Sacheon Hapyeong Dapgyonori (Bridge-Walking Game) is a representative agricultural folk tradition born out of the region’s natural environment. It is performed in Hapyeong Village, Sacheon-myeon, Gangneung-si, Gangwon-do on Jomsangnal (the 6th day of the 2nd lunar month), during which villagers engage in bridge walking to wish for community unity and a bountiful harvest.

In the early evening of Jomsangnal, as the crescent moon rises in the western sky, a cluster of stars known as Jomsangbyeol (the Pleiades) becomes visible behind it. This tradition involves predicting the year’s harvest based on the distance between the moon and the Jomsangbyeol. In this cosmic divination, the crescent moon represents the "mother," while the Jomsangbyeol represents her "children."
If the distance between the Jomsangbyeol and the moon is wide, it foretells a year of abundance; if they are close, it indicates a poor harvest. The underlying folk belief is that during a prosperous year with plenty of food, the children will walk confidently at a distance from their mother, whereas in a lean year of scarcity, the hungry children will cling close to her.

Furthermore, villagers cross the bridge while chanting traditional call-and-response folk refrains, singing, "Oh, what a finely built bridge this is! Let’s stroll across it with joy." It is believed that treading on the bridge on Jomsangnal expels diseases and wards off misfortunes for all twelve months of the year.

As South Korea's only surviving folk tradition dedicated to Jomsangnal, Sacheon Hapyeong Dapgyonori is an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province and has been faithfully transmitted through the Sacheon Hapyeong Dapgyonori Preservation Association. Its cultural value has been recognized nationwide, notably winning the prestigious Presidential Award at the 42nd National Folk Arts Festival in 2001, and it continues to widely promote the unique cultural heritage of the Gangneung region.