A farmer plays the king plowing the fields.

(NLDO) - A 75-year-old farmer wearing a mask and a royal robe reenacted the scene of King Le Dai Hanh plowing the fields at the Tich Dien Doi Son (Ha Nam) festival on the occasion of the Lunar New Year 2025.

On the morning of February 4 (the 7th day of the Lunar New Year), the People's Committee of Duy Tien town, Ha Nam province organized the Doi Son Tich Dien Festival of At Ty Spring 2025 at Doi Son pagoda (Tien Son commune, Duy Tien town). Thousands of people from all over came to attend this event.

Một nông dân vào vai nhà vua đi cày ruộng- Ảnh 1. — Image of 75-year-old farmer playing the role of a king plowing the fields at the Tich Dien Doi Son festival, Tet At Ty 2025

According to the Organizing Committee, the Tich Dien Festival 2025 will take place over 3 days, from February 2 to February 4 (ie from the 5th to the 7th day of Tet). Of which, the Tich Dien ceremony will take place on February 4 (ie the 7th day of Tet).

Farmer Nguyen Ngoc An (born in 1950, residing in Duy Tien town, Ha Nam province) imbued with the spirit of the king, wearing a mask and a royal robe, reenacting the scene of King Le Dai Hanh plowing the fields, praying for a year of favorable weather and bountiful crops.

This year the festival consists of 2 parts, the ceremony will include the following rituals: Announcement Ceremony, Water Procession Ceremony to the Altar, Purification Ceremony, Peace Prayer Ceremony, Palanquin Procession Ceremony...

Một nông dân vào vai nhà vua đi cày ruộng- Ảnh 2. — The Doi Son Tich Dien Festival is held annually and has become a beautiful feature in the community's cultural activities because this is a festival rich in humanity, deeply promoting agriculture, expressing gratitude to our ancestors in reclaiming and expanding the fields...

The festival will include sports competitions and folk games; buffalo painting and decoration contest; rice cake making contest of Doi Tam village families; plowing contest; exhibition activities of booths introducing typical agricultural and handicraft products of the town and province...

According to historical records, the Tich Dien festival originated when King Le Dai Hanh returned to the foot of Doi mountain to perform the Tich Dien (plowing) ceremony in the spring of Dinh Hoi year (987). While plowing the fields, the king caught a pot of gold. In 988, the king plowed the fields in Ban Hai and caught a pot of silver, so these fields were later called Kim Dien and Ngan Dien.

Since then, Tich Dien has become a beautiful custom that was solemnly and respectfully performed by later dynasties such as Ly, Tran, and Hau Le. In particular, during the Nguyen Dynasty, the Tich Dien ceremony had many specific "rules", was organized on a large scale, and was presided over by the Ministry of Rites.

After a period of interruption, in 2009, the Tich Dien festival was restored and held continuously until now.

The Tich Dien Festival is held annually and has become a beautiful feature in the community's cultural activities because this is a festival rich in humanity, promoting agriculture, expressing gratitude to ancestors in reclaiming and expanding fields, promoting the spirit of being close to the people, respecting farmers, and farming...