Multiplying pride in national origin

Heritage rendezvous

Nearly 80 years old, Mr. Duong Duc Tinh (Truong Yen commune) always chooses the day his hometown opens its festival as an opportunity to return to visit his hometown. Mr. Tinh said, "I am old, my health is poor, and I rarely have the opportunity to return to my hometown. Therefore, returning to my hometown on the day my hometown opens its festival is both a reunion with relatives and an opportunity to enjoy the culturally rich festival atmosphere. "For me, returning to the festival is returning to my roots. Even though I am old, when I return to the festival, the feeling of excitement and sacredness is always intact. I am truly proud of a festival rich in the cultural identity of my hometown. This is also an opportunity for my children and grandchildren to better understand the history of the nation and the traditions of my hometown," Mr. Tinh said.

For decades, for Ms. Bui Thi Thu's family (Quang Ninh province), attending the Hoa Lu Festival every year has become a habit, an opportunity to make a pilgrimage to the heritage site. Ms. Thu shared that each time she comes to the Hoa Lu Festival, she feels something new and solemn. This year, the Hoa Lu Festival is also the occasion to celebrate the 1,100th anniversary of the birth of Emperor Dinh Tien Hoang, so the event is even more magnificent, but still very solemn and sacred.

On the opening day of the festival, my family arrived very early to offer incense sticks to express gratitude to the merits of the ancestors. In addition, I enjoyed the festival with programs imbued with cultural and folk colors, such as drum dance performances, Cheo singing... visiting the booths displaying antiques, artifacts, documents, and images of the Dinh, Tien Le, and Ly dynasties, to learn about the history and traditional values of the Hoa Lu capital in the 10th century as well as the life and career of King Dinh Tien Hoang and King Le Dai Hanh; visiting hundreds of photos taken by photographers. The photos depict the beauty of famous scenic spots in Ninh Binh such as: Hoa Lu Ancient Capital Landscape, Trang An, Bai Dinh, Tam Coc Bich Dong, Van Long... if we have the opportunity, we will return to Ninh Binh more often to visit and explore more famous places.

Mr. Hoang Ngoc Hoa, Vice Chairman of Hoa Lu District People's Committee said: Before and during the festival, thousands of people and tourists came to visit, travel, offer incense, and attend the festival. This is an opportunity for each person to express the tradition and morality of "When drinking water, remember its source" to honor, commemorate, and show gratitude to the Emperors and national heroes.

Hoa Lu Festival is also a place for everyone to express their wishes and aspirations for national peace, people’s peace, favorable weather, family, village, and homeland peace and happiness. Through the festival’s activities, it also aims to educate the tradition of patriotism for generations of Vietnamese people, thereby uniting together to continue writing the glorious history of the nation in today’s era…

Forever Forever

The great historical stature, the aspiration for independence, unity, and building a strong nation of Emperor Dinh Tien Hoang, associated with the national name Dai Co Viet, with the role and position of Hoa Lu Capital, have become invaluable assets of our nation and people. The spiritual atmosphere of the capital, the merits of building and defending the country, and caring for the people of the legendary king are still deeply imprinted throughout the historical journey, in the minds of the people with deep gratitude. To show gratitude to the merits of the previous emperors, the people and the State institutions of each period have established a Temple in the ancient palace area, and annually organize the Hoa Lu Festival - a great festival, which is held as a solemn ceremony.

Through many historical changes, until today, Hoa Lu Festival - a priceless asset in the intangible cultural heritage treasure - is still a unique and distinctive spiritual and cultural activity of the people of the ancient capital Hoa Lu - Ninh Binh.

Hoa Lu Festival was recognized as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2014. The festival has become a place for people and domestic and international tourists to return to, a place to show respect to the ancestors and heroes who have contributed to building and defending the country.

Over the years, the Party Committee, Government and People of Ninh Binh province have always respected, preserved and promoted the good values of Hoa Lu Festival such as preserving the sacred soul of the thousand-year-old ancient capital, so that the great cause of King Dinh Tien Hoang will always live forever with time and the country of Vietnam. The pride in the ancient capital of Hoa Lu; the deep gratitude of today's generations towards the national heroes have also been fostered by the Party Committee, Government and People in the province to become a spirit of solidarity, unity, proactiveness and creativity to overcome all difficulties and challenges, achieving important and comprehensive achievements in all economic, cultural and social fields.

The Hoa Lu Festival in 2024 is also the occasion to celebrate the 1,100th birthday of Emperor Dinh Tien Hoang and is solemnly organized by Ninh Binh province, worthy of the status of a national intangible cultural heritage. The art program on the opening night made a strong impression on visitors because of its scale and unique design ideas.

The festival's opening stage was inspired by the image of heritage tourism in Ninh Binh, with the highlight being the artifacts and archaeological sites discovered through excavations in the ancient Hoa Lu Capital area. The highlight was the Dai Viet Quoc Quan Thanh Chuyen brick, along with the Dragon motifs on the decorative designs and architectural materials of the Dinh Dynasty in the 10th century. In line with the grandeur and uniqueness of the stage, the art program on the opening night was also very special, satisfying the audience with the theme "Mission of the Imperial Capital" through the performances of hundreds of artists and actors.

The main content of the art program is to simulate the story of King Dinh Tien Hoang from his youth to the time when he established the imperial career, opening the national legitimacy of Dai Co Viet after a thousand years of Chinese domination. In addition, it also depicts the inheritance of tradition, following in the footsteps of the ancestors of today's young generation in the cause of building a prosperous homeland, towards the Millennium Heritage City in the future.

During the festival days, it is estimated that thousands of people and tourists from all over the world will gather at the heritage site to immerse themselves in the sacred and legendary festival atmosphere. Festival-goers will be able to participate in many unique festival activities.

The ceremony is solemnly held with traditional rituals, honoring and expressing gratitude to the merits of the Kings and ancestors who built and defended the country; expressing the wishes of the people for national peace and prosperity, favorable weather, and lush vegetation... through rituals: Temple opening ceremony, incense offering, water procession, palanquin procession, prayers for the dead, and flower lantern festivals, thanksgiving ceremonies...

The festival includes cultural, sports and folk games such as: Exhibitions, cockfighting, human chess, drum and gong performances; sports competitions, traditional wrestling competitions... These activities have contributed to preserving and promoting the historical and cultural traditions of the nation; promoting the potential strengths of tourism and culture, attracting domestic and foreign tourists to Ninh Binh.

The event to celebrate the 1,100th anniversary of the birth of Emperor Dinh Tien Hoang and the Hoa Lu Festival 2024 has ended, but the good echoes and feelings about the land rich in historical and cultural traditions, about the elegant and hospitable people of the ancient capital will remain deeply in the hearts of visitors from near and far.

Dao Hang

Source