Opening of Gióng Festival - Representative Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

(HNMO) - On the evening of May 25, at the special national relic of Phu Dong Temple, the People's Committee of Gia Lam District solemnly held the opening ceremony of the 2023 Giong Festival; receiving the decision to recognize Phu Dong commune as a model new rural area.

Folk art performance at the Gióng festival.

Gia Lam District is located in the Northeast of Hanoi Capital, has long been known as a land with a rich historical tradition, the intersection of two cultural streams of Thang Long and Kinh Bac, the homeland of Saint Giong - Phu Dong Thien Vuong - one of the "Four Immortals" in folk beliefs, a symbol of patriotism and determination to repel foreign invaders, to preserve the country and the borders of the Vietnamese people.

According to legend, Phu Dong commune was the cradle of the boy from the village of Giong, who had the merit of driving the invaders out of the country. To commemorate his merit, the royal court conferred on him the title of “Phu Dong Thien Vuong” and built a temple in his hometown, which is Phu Dong temple today, still preserving the intact architectural scale, along with artistic carvings bearing the style of the Northern Delta region.

Vice Chairman of Gia Lam District People's Committee Nguyen Duc Hong spoke at the opening ceremony of the Giong festival.

Speaking at the event, Vice Chairman of Gia Lam District People's Committee Nguyen Duc Hong affirmed: For thousands of years, the Gióng Festival at Phù Đổng Temple has been preserved and protected by the community as a part of its flesh and blood. Gióng Festival is also a typical "battle festival", attracting the participation of a large number of residents, with a system of symbolic rituals, imbued with Vietnamese cultural identity, containing creativity, expressing the aspiration for a prosperous life for each family, for a peaceful nation and the world.

"Along with the Gióng festival at Sóc temple in Sóc Sơn district, the Gióng festival at Phù Đổng temple in Gia Lâm district has been recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as a representative intangible cultural heritage of humanity. This is an honor and pride for the Party Committee, government and people of Gia Lâm district, and at the same time a profound reminder of the great sense of responsibility in preserving and promoting the value of tangible and intangible cultural heritage in the area," Mr. Nguyễn Đức Hồng emphasized.

The Gióng Festival at Phù Đổng Temple takes place over three days, from May 25 to 27 (from the 7th to the 9th of the fourth lunar month), at Phù Đổng Temple and many related locations.

Activities held during the festival include: Saint worship ceremony, incense offering, procession, procession and traditional battle... Besides the ceremony, there is a festival with many traditional cultural and sports activities, contributing to promoting and introducing Gia Lam tourism, Hanoi tourism, such as: Traditional wrestling, chess, Tuong singing, Quan Ho singing, mass art performances...