On the evening of January 13, "pigs" weighing hundreds of kilograms were carried by La Phu villagers to the village temple to worship the village's tutelary god during the New Year's holiday.
Unique image of 17 "pigs", each weighing hundreds of kilograms, being carried in Hanoi
Tuesday, February 11, 2025 13:22 PM (GMT+7)
On the evening of January 13, "pigs" weighing hundreds of kilograms were carried by La Phu villagers to the village temple to worship the village's tutelary god during the New Year's holiday.
The festival has become a unique cultural and spiritual beauty of the La Phu people. According to legend, every time he prepared to go to war, Tam Lang would slaughter a pig to reward his troops, and the villagers brought pigs to pay their respects. Later, he was honored as the village's tutelary god, and the custom of offering pigs to commemorate his merits is still maintained to this day. Mr. Ngo Van Vuong, 60 years old, in Minh Khai 1 village, shared: "I had to raise this pig for a year and a half to reach a weight of 245 kg. Every day, it eats two meals, with the main food being water spinach, bran and bean dregs. Occasionally, I add rice to cook with it, but absolutely do not feed it sweet potato leaves."
In the early afternoon, the atmosphere of preparing for the pig procession was bustling, permeating every corner of La Phu village. The most important and elaborate decoration was the caul fat covering the body, the fat was carefully peeled off, not torn or cracked, and spread evenly over the head and body. Decorating each "pig" usually took about 2-3 hours and required the person doing it to be skillful and meticulous.
Thousands of people poured into the streets to watch and cheer for the villages participating in the procession, the sound of drums resounded throughout every corner.
After being "dressed up", the "pig" was carried to the village temple under the guidance of elders. Each "pig" weighed over 200 kg.
A bustling festival in La Phu village. The hamlets will carry pigs around the village for about 2 hours, then enter the communal house yard at midnight.
The pig procession festival begins when lanterns and flashing lights decorate the streets, creating a joyful atmosphere.
The palanquins carrying the "Pig" will be carried by the people through the alleys and village roads, led by a trumpet and drum team, lion dance, followed by an altar with offerings such as lights, flowers, fruit trays, sweet rice cakes, and incense burners...
Fireworks lit up the sky over La Phu village.
Children and parents watch the festival.
"Pigs" weighing hundreds of kilograms each walk through the streets of La Phu.
17 “pigs” from 10 hamlets were carried into the communal house to worship the village’s tutelary god. Because the “pigs” were large and bulky, the procession had a hard time getting them into the communal house, taking more than an hour to complete. The people carrying the palanquin were all unmarried young men, each “pig” required more than ten people to carry.
17 "pigs" will be carried around the village, 6 "pigs" will be selected and brought to the inner room of the communal house, the other 11 "pigs" will be worshiped in the outer room.
Then, at 11pm, the elders will perform the ceremony continuously until 2am on January 14th, then the 17 "pigs" will be returned to the village to be butchered and distributed to the people.
La Phu pig procession festival is not only an occasion to honor the village's tutelary god but also a unique cultural event, connecting the community and maintaining national cultural traditions.
Viet Tung
Source: https://danviet.vn/hinh-anh-doc-la-ruoc-17-ong-lon-moi-ong-nang-hang-tram-kg-o-ha-noi-20250211130856963.htm
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