January on the Lunar calendar comes, emerging into the fresh atmosphere of the land and sky echoes the drum sounds opening the village festivals throughout the province. The sound of the festival drum is both resonant and elegant as if it were urging, persuading, inviting and making people's hearts more eager and boisterous....

January on the Lunar calendar comes, emerging into the fresh atmosphere of the land and sky echoes the drum sounds opening the village festivals throughout the province. The sound of the festival drum is both resonant and elegant as if it were urging, persuading, inviting and making people's hearts more eager and boisterous....

Procession in Hoan sac festival in Sai Thi village, Thuan Hung commune (Khoai Chau province)

After 3 years affected by Covid-19 pandemic, Hoan Sac festival in Sai Thi village was held fully attracting local people and tourists. The village temple of Sai Thi village worships two grand princes namely Thanh thong linh ung dai vuong and Hien linh cam ung dai vuong. They were generals in the 18th Hung King dynasty. Every 3 years, villagers organize the procession and the festival. This is the occasion to show gratitude to the predecessors. Mr. Nguyen Xuan Phuong, Secretary of the Party and head of Sai Thi village shared: "The village festival is the important day of the people. This is the occasion for people staying far to return the hometown and for villagers to commemorate ancestors. Organization of festivals are implemented under the traditional culture, ensure civilization, economy, and contribute to the spiritual demand of villagers. This is the chance to educate the traditions on the young generation"

The boisterous drum sound echoes in the village and livens up every corner of the village. As a spiritual and religious festival, it contains high value of education, advises people to remove evils to rise to good, eliminates worries in daily life; at the same time, reminds people of gratitude for the predecessors. Mr. Nguyen Huu Sang who is a Sai Thi resident living in Hanoi city and attending the festival shared that: Although I'm busy with my work, I still arrange time to attend the village festival. Every time the festival is held, I am moved and call for donation to build up the hometown".

From the 10th to the 12th of Jan. on the lunar calendar, Nom villagers in Dai Dong commune (Van Lam district) solemnly organized the village festival to commemorate the Village God Duc Thanh Tam Giang. According to records of local people, Duc Thanh Tam Giang was an all-round general. He commanded his troops to beat Ma Vien's soldiers in Luy Lau citadel. After glory, Tam Giang general returned Dong Cau camp (Nom village today) to mobilize soldiers and train martial arts.

After a while, To Dinh's troops invaded our country and settled in Luy Lau citadel. Hai Ba Trung called for soldiers to wipe out To Dinh's troops. Tam Giang general directedsoldiers from Dong Cau camp to fight enemies.

To Dinh army deployed soldiers to Dong Cau camp to arrest his father and wife to threaten him, and they committed suicide in front of the pagoda's gate (now called Nom pagoda). Due to strong enemies, Hai Ba Trung's troops lost, Tam Giang General receded to Dong Cau camp. Realizing enemies run after him were more and more crowded, he determined not to be caught and pierced the boat himself. Therefore, the hurricane raged and the water shaped an extraordinaryscene to weave around his body to prevent the enemies from nearing. On the following morning, villagers realized that place became a termite pile and built the temple to worship him.

Nom village festival includes traditional rituals and activities such as the water procession ritual from the pagoda to the communal house, the God procession ritual ceremony to the pagoda…

On the day the village festival takes place, workers working in remote places go home, gather with their families, offer incense too ancestors and take part in traditional rituals. Mrs. Nguyen Thi Lan living with her family in Quang Ninh province visits her hometown every year on the occasion of the village festival. They not only join the traditional games but also more importantly, understand the history, rituals and customs; hence, educate children on pride spirit and hometown traditions.

According to statistics of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, today, there are over 500 traditional festivals, mostly taking place from Jan. to Mar. on the Lunar calendar. Regardless of scales and levels, traditional festivals must be solemn, joyful and healthy based on preservation and development of nice traditional culture values. Diversity of cultural activities in the festival makes the atmosphere always fresh and enjoyable. Participating in festivals to watch and relish the community values raises the awareness of preservation and promotion of cultural values passed by ancestors.

Nguồn trích dẫn: baohungyen.vn