Flag raising ceremony, opening of traditional Do Son buffalo fighting festival 2024

Do Son District ( Hai Phong ) held an incense offering ceremony to open the traditional buffalo fighting festival in 2024.

In a solemn atmosphere, representatives of the People's Committee of Do Son district, the Organizing Committee of the Do Son traditional buffalo fighting festival, together with the elders and buffalo owners attending the festival, performed the incense offering and flag raising rituals, officially opening the Do Son traditional buffalo fighting festival 2024. This is an important opening ceremony, with the wish for a favorable festival season, favorable weather, and safe, exciting and attractive competitions.

In addition to the incense offering ceremony at Nghe Temple, the temple worshiping Diem Tuoc, the tutelary god of Do Son people, and the Nam Hai Dai Than Vuong temple on Dau island, wards in Do Son district also simultaneously held incense offering ceremonies to open the festival at the communal house of the ward. Mr. Luong Huu Chien, Chairman of the Elderly Association of Van Huong Ward, Chief of the Buffalo Fighting Festival of Van Huong Ward (Do Son District) said that the rituals in the Do Son Buffalo Fighting Festival are still preserved and preserved intact by local people.

Mr. Pham Hoang Tuan, Head of the festival organizing committee, beat the drum to open the festival

Mr. Chien said: "The purpose of the buffalo fighting festival is to pray for national peace and prosperity, for the people of the Do Son coastal area to have favorable weather, smooth sailing, and catch lots of shrimp and fish; to demonstrate the martial spirit of the nation. The buffalo fighting festival in Do Son is also different from the buffalo fighting festivals in some provinces and cities across the country. The Do Son buffalo fighting has a ritual part and a festival part, two different parts. In the festival part, the "buffaloes" enter the yard to fight; but before entering, they must perform the rituals in the ritual part".

Buffalo owners offer incense at Nghe Temple. The 2024 Do Son traditional buffalo fighting festival has the participation of 16 "buffalo men" representing wards in the district.

In addition to the incense offering and flag raising ceremony, the Do Son District People's Committee will organize the traditional buffalo fighting festival rituals in accordance with traditional customs, such as: Water procession ceremony on August 7 (lunar calendar) at Nghe Temple; the god ceremony on the night of August 8 (lunar calendar) at Nghe Temple and the district central stadium; the god sending ceremony on August 16 (lunar calendar)... The festival will take place on September 11, the 9th day of the 8th lunar month, with the participation of 16 "buffalo men", representing wards in Do Son District. All preparations for the festival have been carefully prepared by Do Son District and the festival organizing committee of wards in the district.

Mr. Nguyen Van Xo, owner of buffalo number 01 in Bang La ward, Do Son district, said: "The Do Son buffalo fighting festival has existed for thousands of years, passed down by our ancestors. We are descendants, continuing the tradition of our ancestors to participate in the festival so that the children of the Do Son coastal region have good health and have bountiful harvests. This year, Bang La ward has 2 buffaloes, buffalo number 01 and 02 participating in the festival. All the work of the ward as well as the buffalo owners is very good, holding ceremonies at the communal houses, taking care of the buffaloes and keeping the buffaloes healthy to achieve high results."

Do Son buffalo fighting festival demonstrates the martial spirit of coastal people, praying for national peace and prosperity, favorable weather, and good luck for people going to sea.

This year's Do Son traditional buffalo fighting festival is associated with the 35th anniversary of the festival's restoration and development. In addition to the traditional rituals and performances on the morning of September 11, Do Son district organized many activities, such as: Mobile propaganda and exhibition of photos and artifacts associated with 35 years of restoring and developing the festival; games and interactive activities to help participants understand more about the history and traditions of the Do Son Buffalo Fighting Festival...

Source: https://baohaiduong.vn/le-thuong-co-khai-hoi-choi-trau-truyen-thong-do-son-2024-392010.html