Performed by: Bao Trung | April 11, 2024
(Fatherland) - Sitting tug of war is one of Vietnam's tug of war heritages recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
The Tran Vu Temple Festival in Thach Ban Ward (Long Bien, Hanoi) takes place over three days, April 10, 11 and 12 (March 2-4 of the lunar calendar). The "Sitting Tug of War" ritual is practiced by people on the main festival day - March 3 of the lunar calendar.
Tran Vu Temple Festival is held annually on the 3rd day of the 3rd lunar month, bearing traditional cultural identity, to express people's respect for the gods. Attending the Tran Vu Temple Festival, people and tourists from all over have the opportunity to admire the Huyen Thien Tran Vu statue - a monolithic bronze statue crafted around the 18th century, over 4m high, weighing about 4,000kg. The statue was recognized by the Government as a National Treasure in 2015, closely associated with the history of building and defending the country of the nation. Along with the Huyen Thien Tran Vu statue as a national treasure, Tran Vu Temple currently preserves 23 royal decrees dating from the Canh Hung 44 era to the Nguyen Dynasty (from 1740 to 1940) which have been recognized by the Hanoi People's Committee as precious and rare archival documents.
Tran Vu Temple Festival is held annually on the 3rd day of the 3rd lunar month, carrying traditional cultural identity, expressing people's respect for the gods, reflecting people's dreams and aspirations, wishing for a peaceful and good life. The festival is also a cultural activity originating from people's life needs, contributing to strengthening the great national unity, always looking back to the origin; at the same time, it is a place to educate historical and cultural traditions for future generations.
One of the unique cultural values of the Tran Vu Temple Traditional Festival is the "Sitting Tug of War" ritual - a long-standing social and religious custom in the Cu Linh village festival, Thach Ban commune, Gia Lam district (now Ngoc Tri cluster, Thach Ban ward, Long Bien district).
According to historical records, the "Sitting Tug of War" ritual is held during the annual Tran Vu Temple Festival with 3 participating teams: Cho side, Duong side and Dia side. The unique point of this ritual is that the participating teams sit on the ground to pull, the tug of war sit with their legs bent and stretched and sit alternately, one facing one side, the other on the other side of the rope.
Through the game and ritual of Sitting Tug of War, people pray for favorable weather, good harvests and good harvests.
On December 19, 2014, the "Sitting Tug of War" ritual at Tran Vu Temple was recognized as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
According to Vietnam's proposal, UNESCO recognized "Tug of War rituals and games" as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity for 4 provinces and cities: Lao Cai, Vinh Phuc, Bac Ninh, Hanoi, including "Sitting tug of war" at Tran Vu Temple, Thach Ban ward (Long Bien district, Hanoi city).
The representative of the Organizing Committee said that the organization of the performance of the "Sitting Tug of War" ritual - a representative intangible cultural heritage of humanity at the Tran Vu Temple Festival aims to bring people and visitors from near and far to admire the ancient ritual of their ancestors, recreating the unique traditional culture, expressing the wishes and aspirations of the people of Ngoc Tri in particular, Thach Ban in general: praying for favorable weather, good crops, a full, prosperous and happy life.
The government and people of Thach Ban ward, together with the Tran Vu Temple Relic Management Board, will continue to preserve and promote the heritage value, so that the "Sitting Tug of War" ritual will continue to be passed down and preserved for today and tomorrow.
The boys tried their best to win.
People cheered for the pulling teams.
A large crowd of people came to join in and cheer, creating a bustling atmosphere.
The drum beats, fluttering flags and cheers of the audience seemed to give strength to the participating teams.
The government and people of Thach Ban ward, together with the Tran Vu Temple Relic Management Board, will continue to preserve and promote the heritage value, so that the "Sitting Tug of War" ritual will continue to be passed down and preserved for today and tomorrow.
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