Tourists flock to the Lim Festival.

Locals and tourists from all over flock to the Lim festival to listen to Quan Ho folk singing.

On the morning of February 21st (the 12th day of the first lunar month of the Year of the Dragon), the Lim Festival - the largest festival in the Kinh Bac region of Bac Ninh province - officially opened.

This is one of the characteristic traditional festivals of the Kinh Bac region, featuring the ritual of offering incense at Hong An Pagoda and the tomb of General Nguyen Dinh Dien on Lim Hill, followed by a procession of the sacred decree from Dinh Ca village communal house to Lo Bao village communal house, and the traditional incense offering ceremony at communal houses, temples, and pagodas in the villages of Noi Due commune, Lien Bao commune, and Lim town.

Today is not the main day of the festival, but a large number of tourists have flocked to the Lim Festival.

As in previous years, the Lim Spring Festival of the Year of the Dragon 2024 consists of two parts: the ceremony and the festivities, held in three communes formerly belonging to the Noi Due district, now Lim town, Noi Due commune, and Lien Bao commune. The center of the festival is Lim mountain in Lim town.

Although today, February 21st, is not the main festival day, tourists have flocked here to offer incense at Hong An Pagoda, the tomb of General Nguyen Dinh Dien on Lim Hill, and to participate in the festival, enjoying the heartfelt and lyrical Quan Ho folk songs.

Male and female singers perform Quan Ho folk songs at the Lim festival.

According to the Lim Festival Organizing Committee, this is a traditional festival held annually on the 12th and 13th of January with activities including: offering incense; Quan Ho folk singing on boats; singing at the huts and homes of artisans; performances on the main stage; and folk games.

The organizing committee and relevant authorities have focused on ensuring security and order, food safety and hygiene, product price listing, parking fees, and traffic management.

This year marks the first time the Lim Festival has implemented the set of criteria for the cultural environment of traditional festivals, as stipulated in the Decision of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. The content of these criteria is publicly displayed in the central areas of the festival.

Over the years, the management and organization of festivals in Tien Du district in general, and the Lim Festival in particular, have received focused attention and guidance from all levels and sectors, resulting in many positive changes and good implementation of State regulations.

Coordination, guidance, and inspection of festivals have been strengthened. Most festivals are organized solemnly with rich, diverse, practical content, in accordance with regulations, and imbued with the traditional cultural identity of Bac Ninh - Kinh Bac.

Some activities at the Lim Festival.

Explaining the story of Quan Ho singers "holding out their hats to ask for money," Meritorious Artist Xuan Mui affirmed that it is not a matter of begging and giving, but rather "rewarding," another way of referring to reward, but with more formal and polite language.

The practice of giving monetary rewards is not unique to Quan Ho folk singing performances; it exists in other art forms such as Cheo, Tuong, and Cai Luong. This reflects the affection, appreciation, and admiration of the audience for the artists who dedicate themselves to providing meaningful and impressive performances.

Tomorrow, February 22nd (the 13th day of the first lunar month), the Lim Festival will proceed with the procession of the sacred decree from Dinh Ca village communal house to Lo Bao village communal house and offer incense according to traditional rituals at communal houses, temples, and pagodas in the villages of Noi Due commune, Lien Bao commune, and Lim town.

Along with the ceremonial part, the festival takes place in the center of Lim Hill and the Van Tuong regulating lake area with many folk games such as: Quan Ho call-and-response singing, Quan Ho night singing, swing riding, traditional wrestling, dragon dance...

Source: https://daidoanket.vn/du-khach-no-nuc-tray-hoi-lim-10273636.html