Festivals
in September 2005
Tet Trung Thu (Mid-Autumn Festival)
Time:
15th day of the
eighth lunar month.
Place:
Every family.
Objects of worship:
The Moon.
Characteristics:
Feast of banh nuong
and banh deo (pastries), procession of lights,
lion dance.
Tet Trung
Thu is formerly autumn festival, and then becomes
tet trong trang (moon looking festival) of children.
On this day, the moon is the brightest and roundest
in the year, cool weather. The festival involves
the custom of trong trang, procession of lights
(parading with lanterns shaped as moon and stars),
lion dance and eating pasties and fruits.
Hoa
Binh
Cau Phuc Festival (Praying for good fortune
Festival)
Time:
The eighth lunar
month.
Place:
Mai Chau District, Hoa Binh Province.
Characteristics:The
Praying for good fortune Festival of the Thai
in Mai Chau. Every family prepares worshipping
meal to set table in common shrine follow the
principles: this year the offering is chicken,
next year the offering is pig. In the afternoon,
each family kills two chickens to worship Kitchen
God (set in house) and Earth genie (set at field).
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Vinh
Phuc
Bach Tru (Ke Bach) Festival
Time:
9th to the 15th
day of the eighth lunar month.
Place:
Tien Thang Commune,
Me Linh District, Vinh Phuc Province.
Objects
of worship:
My Nuong, and Cong
Son - a general of Hai Ba Trung.
Characteristics:
Procession of Ba's
palanquin, sacrifices-offering ceremony, banh
giay making contest.
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Ninh
Binh
Yen Cu Festival
Time:
20th day of the
eighth lunar month.
Place:
Khanh Cu Commune, Yen Khanh District, Ninh Binh
Province.
Objects
of worship:
Tran Hung Dao,
his wife and princesses.
Characteristics:
Procession of palanquin
across Day River to Phu Hao Village.
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Hai
Phong
Do Son Buffalo Fighting Festival
Time:
The 9th day of
the eighth lunar month.
Place:
Do Son Town, Haiphong
City.
Objects
of worship:
Water genie.
Characteristics:
Buffalo fighting,
the cult of water genie.
The Buffalo Fight in Do Son
(Haiphong City) is officially held every year
on the 9th day of the eighth month of the lunar
calendar. There are, in fact, two rounds of
elimination before the middle of the fifth month
and 8th day of the sixth lunar month.
The
preparation for this festival is very elaborate.
Fighting buffaloes must be carefully selected,
well fed, and trained. These buffaloes must
be between 4 and 5 years old, with a good appearance,
a wide chest, a big groin, a long neck, an acute
bottom, and bow shaped horns. The fighting buffaloes
are fed in separate cages to keep them from
contact with common buffaloes.
The beginning of the worshipping ceremony lasts
until lunch time. A typical procession begins
with an octet and a big procession chair, carried
by six strong young men. The six clean buffaloes
that are part of the ceremony are covered with
red cloths and bound with reddish bands on their
horns. There are 24 young men who dance and
wave flags as two teams of troops start fighting.
After this event, a pair of buffaloes are led
to opposite sides of the festival grounds and
are made to stand near two flags called Ngu
Phung. When the right signal is released, the
two buffaloes are moved to within 20m of each
other. At the next signal, the two leaders release
the ropes that are attached to the noses of
the buffaloes. The two buffaloes then rush into
each other with well practiced movements. The
spectators then shout and urge the fighting
along.
At the completion of the fight,
the spectacle of "receiving the buffaloes"
is very interesting as the leaders must then
catch the winning buffalo to grant it its reward.
The Buffalo Fight in Do Son
is a traditional festival that is attached to
a Water God worshipping ceremony and the "Hien
Sinh" custom. The most typical reason for
the ceremony is to express the martial spirit
of the local people in Do Son, Haiphong.
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Earth firecracker Festival
Time:
3rd day of the
eighth lunar month.
Place:
Tan Hung, Tam Da,
Tan Liên Communes, Vinh Bao District,
Haiphong City.
Characteristics:
Earth firecracker
contest. Each earth firecracker is refined carefully,
25kg to 30kg in weight. After the starting signal,
players lift earth firecracker high then beat
it down. Which one has longest piece will win
the prize
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Ha Communal House Festival
Time:
20th day of the
eighth lunar month.
Place:
Hong Bang District,
Haiphong City.
Objects
of worship:
The Buddha, Tran
Hung Dao, Tran Quoc Toan, Chua Lieu, Nguyen
Cong Tru.
Characteristics:Sacrifices-offering
ceremony, incense offering
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Tat
Giang Festival (Dum singing at night on river
Festival)
Time:
10th to the 15th
day of the eighth lunar month.
Place:
Do Son Town, Haiphong
City.
Characteristics:Singers
rowing on river, songs are composed by themselves,
the contest is taken place in 3 nights, who
cannot make repartees is lost.
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Hai
Duong
Kiep Bac Temple Festival
Time:
The
20th day of the eighth lunar month - the death
anniversary of Tran Hung Dao.
Place:
Kiep Bac Temple
Hai Duong Province, the estate and garrisoning
camp of Tran Hung Dao after the first victory
over the Yuan invaders in 1258.
Objects
of worship:
Tran Hung Dao.
Characteristics:
Fighting in the
Luc Dau River, boat racing.
Every year,
from the 15th to 20th days of the eighth lunar
month, tens of thousands of people throughout
the country flock to attend the Kiep Bac Temple
Festival.
The
temple is situated in Hung Ðao Commune,
Chí Linh District, Hai Duong Province.
It is dedicated to Trân Quôc Tuân,
the eminent marshal of the Trân Dynasty,
who led the Vietnamese people in the three successful
resistance wars against the Yuan-Mongolian invaders
in the 13th century. Many people have said that
he was also a sorcerer and herbalist. Thanks
to his great deeds, he was consecrated as Saint
Tran.
The magnificent
festival is solemnly organized. In the early
morning of the 20th day, the on-land processions
start off from Van Yen, Duoc Son and Con Son
to approach the temple. The procession on the
river will be destined for Tran Xa Lagoon, then
following the Thuong River to the quay in front
of the temple. At the appointed time, all processions
will gather correctly in lines at the entrance
gate of the temple to carry out the incense-offering
rite. The chief officiant delivers a speech
to praise the great contributions of Tran Hung
Dao and the historical significance of the anti-Yuan-Mongolian
resistance wars under the Tran Dynasty. He also
gives a funeral oration to Saint Tran Hung Dao.
Then, all people will offer incense sticks.
The incense-offering
rite is followed by a solemn major ceremony
and a palanquin procession. The votive tablet
of Saint Tran is placed in a splendid red-lacquered
gold-gilded palanquin surrounded by some dragon
and lion dancers. The procession moves to the
riverbank. In such an imposing environment,
the audience can recall a big operation of the
Dai Viet heroic army under the leadership of
the genius marshal prior to the famous water
battle on the Bach Dang River seven centuries
ago (1288).
The procession
embarks on the boat ornamented with votive flags
and flowers. The Saint’s palanquin is
transported on a dragon boat. The fleet leaves
the quay in the resounding accompaniment of
drumbeats, gong and horn sounds, and the admiring
acclamation of the audience. When the fleet
moors, the procession returns the temple.
One of the most
attractive performances in the festival is the
race of dozens of boats on the Luc Dau River.
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Hung
Yen
Mai
Vien Festival
Time:2nd
day of the eighth lunar month.
Place:
Kim Dong District,
Hung Yen Province.
Objects
of worship:
The village's tutelary
gods (Two princesses - Ao Do Dai Vuong mandarins).
Characteristics:
Offerings are black
pig, steamed glutinous rice, wine, and singing.
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Ha
Tay
Bat
Nao Festival
Time:15th
to the 18th day of the eighth lunar month.
Place:
Phu Nhieu Hamlet,
Quang Trung Commune, Phu Xuyen District, Ha
Tay Province.
Objects
of worship:
Truong Cong, Khanh
Cong (Dình Bat Nao), also called Tho
Lenh or Than Trung Thanh, general of the 18th
Hung King.
Characteristics:
Sacrifice to the
god, ho cua dinh, praying for people and things
prosperous, good crops.
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Da Si Village Festival
Time:
The 17th day of
the eighth lunar month.
Place:
Da Si Village,
Ha Dong Town, Ha Tay Province.
Objects of worship:
The ancestor of
forge.
Characteristics:
Ancestral worshipping,
procession of palanquin from the head - of -
forge's house to ancestral shrine, offerings
are pig, steamed glutinous rice, rice wine,
game: chess playing.
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Nguyen Trai Temple Festival
Time:
The 16th day of
the eighth lunar month.
Place:
Nhi Khe Village,
Nhi Khe Commune, Thuong Tin District, Ha Tay
Province.
Objects of worship:
Nguyen Trai.
Characteristics:
Incense-offering
ceremony in commemorating his death anniversary
(the 16th day of the eighth lunar month), visiting
his statue and Worshipping House.
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Nam
Dinh
Bao Loc Temple Festival
Time:
20th day of the
eighth lunar month.
Place:
My Loc District,
Nam Dinh Province.
Objects of worship:
Tran Hung Dao.
Characteristics:
Sacrifices-offering
ceremony and popular games.
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Co
Trach Temple Festival
Time:
18th to the 20th
day of the eighth lunar month.
Place:
Nam Dinh City,
Nam Dinh Province.
Objects of worship:Tran
Kings.
Characteristics:
Sacrifices-offering
ceremony, paying pilgrimage, incense offering.
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Dong Cao Temple Festival
Time:
18th day of the
eighth lunar month.
Place:
Dong Cao Village,
Yen Loc Commune, Y Yen District, Nam Dinh Province.
Objects of worship:
An Duong Vuong and
My Chau.
Characteristics:
Procession of My
Nuong's palanquin to visit and confess her faults
with her father.
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Truc Chinh Communal House Festival
Time:
10th to the 15th
day of the eighth lunar month.
Place:
Truc Chinh Commune,
Truc Ninh District, Nam Dinh Province.
Objects of worship:
Trieu Quang Phuc.
Characteristics:
Sacrifices-offering
ceremony, preparing feast contest of 18 giap,
banh giay making contest, fat pig feeding contest.
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Thai
Binh
Dong
Bang Festival
Time:20th
to the 26th day of the eighth lunar month.
Place:
An Le Commune, Quynh
Phu District, Thai Binh Province.
Objects
of worship:
Tran Hung Dao.
Characteristics:
Procession, worshipping
god, boat race.
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Gao Temple Festival
Time:
20th to the 22nd
day of the eighth lunar month.
Place:
An Thai Commune,
Quynh Phu District, Thai Binh Province.
Objects of worship:
Tran Hung Dao.
Characteristics:
Procession, sacrifices-offering
ceremony. Games: wrestling, cock fighting, Chinese
chess.
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Vu Lang Festival
Time:
The 10th day of
the eighth lunar month.
Place:Vu
Lang Commune, Tien Hai District, Thai Binh Province.
Objects of worship:
Four tutelary gods.
Characteristics:
Four tutelary gods
procession, buffalo fighting: buffaloes drink
wine, covered the eyes then taken to fighting
arena (fighting arena is a pond of communal
house which is dried up), dance of starting
battle, human chess playing.
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Hanoi
Ghenh Temple Festival
Time:
The 20th day of
the eighth lunar month.
Place:
Ai Mo Hamlet, Bo
De Ward, Long Bien District, Hanoi.
Objects
of worship:
Three goddesses:
Lieu Hanh (the daughter of Ngoc Hoang), La Binh
(the daughter of Tan Vien - God of Mountain),
Le Ngoc Han (King Quang Trung's wife).
Characteristics:
Van singing the
praise of the Holy Mother's merit.
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Giap Luc Village Festival
Time:
14th day of the
eighth lunar month.
Place:
Giap Luc Hamlet,
Thinh Liet Ward, Hoang Mai District, Hanoi.
Objects
of worship:
Nguyen Chinh (tutelary
god).
Characteristics:
Children from 4
to 5 years old take part in ritual of presenting
Saint to the village at communal house with
100 khau trau and a bottle of wine.
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Phu Xa Village Festival
Time:
14th day of the
eighth lunar month.
Place:
Phu Thuong Ward,
Tay Ho District, Hanoi.
Objects
of worship:
Nguyen Kieu - Saint
Tang.
Characteristics:
Procession of Saint
Tang.
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Ba
Ria - Vung Tau
Nghinh Ong Festival in Vung Tau
Time:
From
the 16th to the 18th day of the eighth lunar
month.
Place:Ca
Ong Tomb, Hoang Hoa Tham Street, Vung Tau City.
Objects
of worship:
Ca Ong.
Characteristics:
Procession of Ca
Ong on sea.
This is the chance for
fishermen pray for safe, catching many shrimps
and fish. Time of the festival coincides with
the day of whale's death. The festival involves
the rites of Ong worshipping, procession of
Ong on sea by a big decorated boat with flag
and flowers, bustling with drums and gongs.
After the rituals are games such as boi singing,
ba trao singing, martial performance.
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Tien
Giang
Tu Kiet Festival
Time:
15th to the 16th
day of the eighth lunar month.
Place:
Thanh Hoa Commune,
Cai Lay District, Tien Giang Province.
Objects
of worship:
Four men: Long,
Than, Rong, Duc who become the heroes during
the struggle against French colonialism.
Characteristics:
Incense offering
ceremony.
----------------------------------------------------
Ho
Chi Minh City
Le Van Duyet Tomb Festival
Time:
From
the 30th day of the seventh lunar month to the
1st day of the eighth lunar month.
Place:
Le Van Duyet Tomb,
Binh Thanh District, Ho Chi Minh City.
Objects
of worship: Ta
quan Le Van Duyet.
Characteristics:
Cau yen ceremony,
performance of many people.
This is the biggest festival in the city. It
is held on the 30th day of the seventh lunar
month, the death anniversary of Le Van Duyet,
who was a military dignitary of Nguyen Dynasty,
used to be governor of Gia Dinh. During the
ceremony of Ta quan's death anniversary, people
pray for the safety and the peace of the country,
favorable weather, a good crop and happiness.
Visitors go on pilgrimage and worship Ta quan,
visit his tomb and take part in popular games,
enjoy boi singing.
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Ong Bon Pagoda Festival
Time:
15th day of the
eighth lunar month.
Place:
Hai Thuong Lan
Ong Street, District 5, Ho Chi Minh City.
Objects
of worship:
Ong Bon, Quan Cong,
Quan The Am, Ba Chua Sanh.
Characteristics:
Incense-offering
ceremony.
