Hung Temple Festival, also known as Hung Kings' Commemoration Day, is one of Vietnam's national festivals, taking place on the 10th day of the third lunar month every year at Hung Temple, Phu Tho. This is not only an occasion to commemorate the Hung Kings, who laid the first foundation for the Vietnamese nation, but also an event to express the deep gratitude of the entire people to their ancestors, while promoting Vietnamese cultural values to the world.
The Hung Kings' death anniversary has its roots in the tradition of ancestor worship, a core cultural value of the Vietnamese people. Since ancient times, feudal dynasties have considered the worship of the Hung Kings as the responsibility of the entire nation. According to the genealogy of the Later Le Dynasty, the dynasties assigned the local people to take care of the Hung Temple and organize the Hung Kings' death anniversary every year on the 10th day of the third lunar month. In return, they were exempted from taxes and corvee labor. In 1917, under the reign of Khai Dinh, the 10th day of the third lunar month was officially recognized as a National Holiday, marking national honor for this event.
In 1946, President Ho Chi Minh signed a decree allowing civil servants to take the 10th day of the third lunar month off to attend the Hung Kings' Commemoration Ceremony, emphasizing the importance of this day. On the first Hung Kings' Commemoration Ceremony under the new regime, Acting President Huynh Thuc Khang presented a precious sword and a map of the Fatherland to the Hung Kings, expressing his respect and praying for national peace and prosperity. President Ho Chi Minh, during his visits to the Hung Kings Temple, left behind a profound message: "The Hung Kings had the merit of founding the country, we, your descendants, must work together to protect the country."
Hung Temple Festival is one of the major festivals of great significance to the Vietnamese people. Photo: collected
The Hung Temple Festival begins on the 8th and lasts until the 10th of the third lunar month, with the 10th day being the main festival. The ceremony is solemnly held with national rituals at the Upper Temple on Nghia Linh Mountain. Offerings include banh chung (square glutinous rice cake) and banh day (round glutinous rice cake) - symbols of heaven and earth, and the three-birth offering (one pig, one goat, one cow). The sound of bronze drums marks the beginning of the sacred ceremony, where officials, elders and people take turns offering incense to commemorate the Hung Kings.
The festival brings a jubilant atmosphere with cultural activities, art and unique folk games. The palanquin procession competition of the villages around the temple area is an important highlight, where the elaborately decorated gilded palanquins compete to shine. The villages compete to show their creativity and devotion through their solemn palanquins. The result of the competition is not only the pride of the winning village but also the connection of the community in the sacred cultural space.
Banh chung cooking contest. Photo: collected
An indispensable part of the festival is the art of Xoan singing - a unique intangible cultural heritage of Phu Tho. Xoan singing, with its simple yet profound melodies, has existed since the time of the Hung Kings and has been passed down through many generations. At the festival, the Xoan troupe performs worship songs in front of the communal house, recreating unique cultural and religious values. In addition, the festival also organizes folk games such as wrestling, cockfighting, swing playing, stick throwing and lively nights of Tuong and Cheo performances.
Not only does it include rituals and festivals, the Hung Temple Festival is also an opportunity to educate the younger generation about the tradition of “remembering the source of water when drinking,” while also conveying the profound meaning of honoring ancestors. On December 6, 2012, UNESCO recognized the “Hung King Worship” as a representative intangible cultural heritage of humanity, thereby affirming the unique value and enduring vitality of this heritage.
The Hung Kings' Commemoration Day has become a national festival, a day when all Vietnamese hearts turn to their roots. The festival not only recalls the merits of the Hung Kings but is also a symbol of national unity, where every Vietnamese person finds pride and responsibility in preserving cultural identity. Over time, the Hung Kings' Temple Festival still retains its sacred value, a bridge between the past, present and future, contributing to creating a proud Vietnam, firmly on the path of integration and development.
Hoang Anh - SEAP
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