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[1]Nkauj Zong Lo played pov pob, a traditional ball tossing game, with her younger cousin, alongside other young Hmong guests from the surrounding areas at the Hmong New Year [2] event in Madison this year. Every year her mother embroiders her name on a new ball for the occasion, she said.
In rural Laos, people played pov pob at New Year events. The game served as a social icebreaker, allowing men to court women through song as they lobbed the ball back and forth. The lyrics required improvisation and strong vocal command, making it a display of wit and talent. For women, ball tossing revealed how coordinated they were, a valued skill in a potential partner or daughter-in-law.
[3]While Hmong-Americans no longer depend on this game for matchmaking, they still play for the sake of introduction and entertainment. An estimated 4,000 guests attended the Hmong New Year [2]event in Madison this November, many with a ball for pov pob in tow.
Not many elders toed up to the ball tossing lines, but the game still resonates with them. It is a traditional display of affection in a modern setting that appeals to cousins and couples alike. This video is a collection of pov pob love stories from the Madison New Year event.
