Phuc Tho district receives national intangible cultural heritage "Tuong Phieu communal house festival"

The procession of the Saint to Tuong Phieu communal house is held in the years of Ty, Ngo, Mao, and Dau. In the photo: The procession of the Saint takes place on January 14, Quy Mao year 2023. Photo: Nguyen Mai

Tuong Phieu Communal House (also known as Ca Communal House) is located in Tich Loc Commune, Phuc Tho District. It was built around 1430 and has undergone many renovations. Tuong Phieu Communal House worships four village tutelary gods, including: Three Saints Tan Vien and Quan Son. The communal house has many cultural, historical and artistic values and is considered a symbolic architectural work of the Doai region. In 2018, Tuong Phieu Communal House was honored to be ranked and recognized by the Government as a special national monument.

Lighting up Dinh Lieu to light the way for the procession at the Saint Procession Ceremony at Tuong Phieu Communal House in the year of Quy Mao 2023. Photo: Nguyen Mai

Every year, Tuong Phieu communal house organizes 4 ceremonies, the biggest of which is the Full Moon Festival in January to commemorate the birthday of Tan Vien Son Thanh, which lasts 3 days: January 14, 15, 16; in which, the night procession of the Saint is extremely sacred and unique. Other ceremonies at the communal house take place on the 14th day of the 5th lunar month (the day the Saint passed away), the 15th day of the 8th lunar month (the day the Saint was ordained) and the 15th day of the 12th lunar month (the thanksgiving ceremony). According to traditional customs, in the years of Ty, Ngo, Mao, Dau, Tuong Phieu villagers will organize a festival to process the Three Saints Tan and the village's tutelary god from Ca communal house to Ngo Son temple (Ngo temple).

Lighting the dragon torch to light the way for the procession at the Saint's Procession Ceremony at Tuong Phieu Communal House in the Year of the Cat 2023. Photo by Nguyen Mai

The special feature of the festival is the night procession, originating from the legend of Saint Tan, who, while on a royal tour to Ngo Son, was engrossed in teaching the villagers how to fish and find ways to control the water. He and his entourage returned to the mountain quite late at night. The villagers were reluctant to see him and his entourage off, so they used dry trees as torches to light the way and admire the Saint longer.

The annual Tuong Phieu communal house festival is not only an occasion to commemorate the merits of the saints, but also an opportunity for generations to review and deepen the cultural values of Phuc Tho homeland. The organization and reenactment of the night procession, the burning dragon torches are symbols of the unique culture of the Doai region, at the same time demonstrating the spirit of solidarity in the community to build the homeland increasingly rich, beautiful and civilized.

Representative of the Department of Heritage (Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism) awarded the National Intangible Cultural Heritage Certificate to the representative of the government and people of Tich Loc commune. Photo: Nguyen Mai

With its unique historical, cultural, social and community values, the Tuong Phieu Communal House Traditional Festival has been listed as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

Speaking at the ceremony, Chairman of Phuc Tho District People's Committee Nguyen Dinh Son emphasized that this is not only an honor and pride of the Party Committee, government and people of Phuc Tho district, but also an opportunity to introduce and promote Phuc Tho's culture to people across the country, a driving force and endogenous strength to help Phuc Tho develop further and further.

With the desire to preserve, maintain and promote the values of the National Intangible Cultural Heritage of Tuong Phieu Communal House Traditional Festival, in the coming time, Phuc Tho district will review and implement the overall planning and detailed planning of the area to embellish, restore and expand the relic, ensuring the festival space is suitable for the landscape and environment.

Leaders of Phuc Tho district presented flowers to congratulate the Party Committee, government and people of Tich Loc commune on receiving the Heritage. Photo: Nguyen Mai