Viet Nam News
HA NOI — New-year writing, buffalo decorating, Duom Temple and Mother Au Co Festivals are among the many cultural activities that take place across Viet Nam in the upcoming festival season of the lunar new year.
The new-year writing festival in Ha Noi was celebrated in Chu Van An Temple in Thanh Liet Commune, Thanh Tri District on Wednesday. The event began with a purifying ceremony to pay tribute to Chu Van An (1292 – 1370), who was known as “a role model for teachers throughout the ages” because of his moral standards and excellence in teaching.
According to Nguyen Huu Do, the director of Ha Noi’s Education and Traning Department, the festival aims to promote learning and respect for knowledge.
It is also the occasion to remind youths of their roots, promote their patriotism and morality.
Five words were chosen to be written during the festival this year by the Ministry of Education and Traning, Ha Noi’s People’s Committee and the Education and Training Department of both Ha Noi and Thanh Tri District, including Nhan (compassion), Nghia (righteousness), Tri (wisdom), Dung (bravery) and Liem (honesty).
Similar festivals were celebrated in other provinces; including the northern provinces of Hai Phong, Quang Ninh and central province of Nghe An. Held annually every lunar New Year after Tet, the festival has become a cultural highlight in Viet Nam.
Locals in the northern province of Ha Nam have joined the festival atmosphere nationwide by celebrating the Buffalo Decorating Contest within the annual Doi Son Tich Dien (ploughing) festival on the fields of Doi Tin Village in Duy Tien District. The contest attracted 20 artists from across the country and two artists from Spain and France.
As a unique cultural event, the festival is expected to encourage local agricultural development. It also aims to introduce the local ploughing festival to more domestic and international visitors.
The province also held other cultural activities, including wrestling, stalls offering local specialties and traditional games.
One of the biggest festivals of the northern province of Thai Nguyen, Duom Temple Festival also kicked off in Duom Village in Phu Luong District.
Held on the sixth day of the first lunar month, the festival aims to honour national hero Duong Tu Minh, who ousted invaders and defended frontiers of the motherland in northern Viet Nam under the Ly dynasty (1009-1225).
The event consists of a ceremony, traditional games and local delicacies.
Duom Temple Festival was recently named as National Intangible Cultural Heritage by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
A festival commemorating the nation’s legendary Mother Au Co opened yesterday in Hien Luong Commune in the northern province of Phu Tho.
In addition to the ritual, the festival offered visitors a chance to take part in folk games and enjoy traditional arts performances. — VNS