Respectfully offering incense in memory of the Hung Kings
10 years have passed since setting foot in Phu Tho on the occasion of the Hung King's death anniversary, Ms. H'Vi E Ban, Member of the Provincial Party Committee, President of the Provincial Women's Union, still cannot forget the feeling of excitement and pride when returning to her homeland for the first time.
Ms. H'Vi E Ban recounted that in 2015, she was honored to be a member of the delegation of leaders and delegates of Dak Nong province to offer incense at the Hung Temple historical relic site on the occasion of the Hung Temple Festival. In a solemn and respectful atmosphere, she and the members of the delegation took turns offering incense at the Ha Temple, Trung Temple, Thuong Temple, Gieng Temple, Thien Quang Pagoda, etc.
Before the souls of ancestors, on behalf of the ethnic people of Dak Nong province, comrade Tran Quoc Huy, at that time Secretary of Dak Nong Provincial Party Committee, expressed his sincere gratitude to the ancestors and reported on the outstanding achievements that Dak Nong province had achieved in recent years. At the same time, he promised that the ethnic people in Dak Nong province would continue to maintain great solidarity, strive to successfully carry out political, economic and social tasks, and not let down the ancestors.
At the Exhibition House of photo documents and artifacts offered by people across the country to King Hung (in the Hung Temple Historical Relic Site), the delegation of Dak Nong province attended the ceremony to receive donations and hand over the province's offerings to the Hung Temple Relic Site Management Board organized by the People's Committee of Phu Tho province.
In the first time participating in the Hung Kings' Commemoration Day, Dak Nong presented to the Hung Kings a pair of precious vases made of Du Sam wood with carved patterns, showing the unique cultural features of Dak Nong province such as: N'Trang Long Monument, images of artisans performing gongs, using traditional musical instruments... and a set of 6 gongs of the M'nong ethnic group, showing the hearts of the ethnic groups in the Central Highlands towards the Ancestral Land.
“Every time March comes, I am filled with emotions. The memories of the first time I offered incense at Hung Temple with the provincial leadership seem to come back to life. Each of us has our own homeland and a common homeland, the homeland of our ancestors. Perhaps that is why, when I first returned to my roots, I felt not strange but very familiar. Currently, as the President of the Provincial Women's Union, I also regularly encourage women to promote the spirit of solidarity, always strive to be worthy of being descendants of Ba Trung, Ba Trieu, children and grandchildren of Hung Kings, contributing to the whole country entering a new era - the era of the Vietnamese people's rise", Ms. H'Vi shared.
Promoting the tradition of "remembering the source of water", every year, agencies, departments and localities of Dak Nong province organize pilgrimage groups to Phu Tho to offer incense at the Hung Temple historical relic site.
Each group may go on the occasion of the Hung Kings' death anniversary or on other occasions, but they all share the same feelings of pride and happiness when returning to their homeland. In particular, no matter how much time has passed, the folk songs and proverbs carved on stone steles along the two sides of the paths leading to the temples have not faded. These songs remind every Vietnamese person, no matter where they are or what they do, to know about their national origins and to try harder to be worthy descendants of the Hung Kings, as Uncle Ho taught: "The Hung Kings built the country/We, your descendants, must work together to protect the country."
Ms. Ha Thi Hanh, member of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairwoman of the Provincial Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee said: “Remembering one’s roots does not necessarily mean returning to one’s hometown Phu Tho, visiting Hung Temple on the Hung Kings’ death anniversary, but depending on the circumstances, each person has their own way of returning to their roots. For me, all I need is to always be respectful and grateful, remember the merits of the Hung Kings, be proud of the national tradition, always try my best in work and life, that is the best and most profound way to return to my roots.”
Mr. Nguyen Van Chien, residential group 3, Nghia Trung ward, Gia Nghia city said that a few years ago, he organized a group of 30 people representing Phu Tho people living in Dak Nong to offer incense to commemorate Hung King on March 10. On that trip back to the roots, all members of the group were excited, happy and wished to have more trips to return to their homeland.
Mr. Chien confided: “Although I have returned many times, each time, I have a different feeling and always feel extremely moved and emotional. I think that, as a Vietnamese citizen, no matter where you are or what you do, you should always take a day to learn about ancient history, to learn more about the Hung Kings and the history of the nation. Because turning to the roots and remembering the merits of the Hung Kings in building the country is one of the deepest loves for the homeland, “People have ancestors, like trees have roots, like rivers have sources”.
Preserving the beauty of national culture
Dak Nong is a place where many people from provinces and cities across the country come to settle down and build a new life, including people from Phu Tho. Therefore, every time the Hung Kings' death anniversary comes, the people of Phu Tho put aside their personal affairs to prepare a meal together to offer to the Hung Kings, paying homage to their roots.
In particular, to educate children about national traditions, the Phu Tho Association in Dak Buk So commune, Tuy Duc district also donated land, labor and money to build the Hung King Temple.
According to Mr. Chu Van Chuc, Chairman of the Phu Tho Association of Dak Buk So Commune, in 2017, on the occasion of the Hung Kings' Commemoration Day (10th of the third lunar month), the Hung Kings Temple was inaugurated in village 6 with an area of 250m2 . Designed in the style of ancient royal architecture, the Temple is located on a high hill, showing the majesty and dignity of the Hung Kings. In addition, to express their respect, people went to the Hung Temple in Phu Tho to ask for land, water, and bring incense sticks to worship.
Mr. Chuc informed that, although living in a new land for many years, the Phu Tho people far from home always preserve the good traditions of the nation. It has become a custom that on holidays and Tet, especially the Hung Kings' death anniversary, the Phu Tho Association meets and respectfully organizes a memorial service to commemorate the Hung Kings' contributions to building the country. To make the death anniversary as complete as possible, people gather to wrap Chung cakes and Day cakes to offer to their ancestors. The ceremonies are held very solemnly and respectfully.
Mr. Chu Anh Chuong, a native of Phu Tho living in village 6, Dak Buk So commune, Tuy Duc district, said: “Every time the Hung Kings’ death anniversary comes, we put aside all our work and prepare a feast together to offer to the Hung Kings. This is also an opportunity for us to gather, talk, and review the history of our ancestors building the country for our descendants to hear. After that, we discuss economic activities and the lives of those who live far from home to encourage each other to try to overcome difficulties and bring glory to the descendants of the Hung Kings in this land.”
In Quang Tin commune, Dak R'lap district, the place of worship of the Hung Kings is kept clean and solemn by the Phu Tho Association. In particular, on the 10th day of the third lunar month every year, this place becomes a place for Phu Tho descendants to come together to pay their respects to the Hung Kings.
Mr. Le Huu Nghe, Chairman of the Phu Tho Association of Quang Tin Commune, said: “Every year, on the Hung Kings’ death anniversary, Phu Tho people currently living in the commune and their descendants from all over gather to burn incense and pay tribute to the Hung Kings. For those of us who are far from home, this is an opportunity to meet, chat, and ask each other about the joys and sorrows in life as well as memories of our childhood in our hometown.”
Organizing the altar to worship and offer incense to commemorate the Hung Kings is a traditional activity of the association. Through this, the previous generations always remind their descendants that no matter what they do, they must always think and turn towards their homeland. Because, it is not only the homeland of Phu Tho people but also the origin of all Vietnamese people, extremely sacred. Remembering the Hung Kings comes from the heart and love of the children towards the origin of the nation.
Mr. Nghe shared: “The offerings to the Hung Kings are always indispensable, including banh chung and banh giay, symbolizing heaven and earth, sticky rice, chicken... Especially, at the meeting, we also review the traditions and history of the Hung Kings' founding of the country, remembering the origins of the nation. The death anniversary is not only an occasion for people to gather and talk to ease their homesickness, but also an opportunity for children and grandchildren to understand and always remember that no matter what they do or where they are, they must remember their roots and homeland.”
Always back to the roots
In recent years, on each occasion of the Hung Kings' Death Anniversary, not only Phu Tho people but all people living in Dak Nong have turned to their roots with practical activities.
Mr. Le Van Minh, village 8, Dak Ru commune, Dak R'lap district, from Phu Tho came to Dak Nong to start a business many years ago. Every year on the Hung Kings' death anniversary, his family and the Phu Tho people living in village 8 organize a meal to respectfully offer to the Hung Kings. On this holiday, in addition to meeting his fellow Phu Tho people, he also invites representatives of families in the village to have a "solidarity" meal.
Mr. Minh shared: “As someone born in the land of the Hung Kings, every 10th day of the 3rd lunar month, I always ask my children and grandchildren who are Phu Tho people in the village to be present to prepare a meal to offer to the Hung Kings. For this meal, I always invite representatives of families from other hometowns to join. Because I think our country has a tradition of solidarity and passionate patriotism, therefore, I also hope that all the people in the village will continue to promote the tradition of solidarity, join hands to build the village and hamlet to develop more and more”.
Mr. Tran Huy Toan, village 8, Dak Ru commune said: “Before the death anniversary, the children of Phu Tho in the village all gathered to discuss how to organize the ceremony. On the main death anniversary, we dressed formally and politely, together preparing a neat tray of offerings with full of banh chung, banh giay, local specialties, especially whichever family had fruits, they all chose the best ones to offer to King Hung”.
Although he was not born in Phu Tho, every March 10th, Mr. Nguyen Van Hung in Nghia Trung ward, Gia Nghia, always prepares Chung cake, Day cake, and fruits to offer to his ancestors as well as the Hung Kings with deep respect. This is a beautiful cultural trait that his family has passed down through many generations.
According to Mr. Hung: “For generations, every time the Hung Kings' death anniversary comes, my family has prepared a tray of offerings with cakes and fruits to offer to the Hung Kings. I always think that as a new generation, it is a very good thing to show gratitude to the previous generation, especially those who have contributed to the country. This is also a way for me to remind my children and grandchildren that no matter what they do or where they are, they must always remember their national roots.”
On April 2, 2007, the National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam approved the amendment and supplement to Article 73 of the Labor Law allowing employees to take time off with full pay on the occasion of the Hung Kings' Commemoration Day (the 10th day of the 3rd lunar month). Since then, the 10th day of the 3rd lunar month has become a major holiday - a National Holiday with national cultural significance.
The Hung Kings' Commemoration Day is a traditional activity with educational significance for all Vietnamese people. It is an affirmation of patriotism, of turning to ancestors, of turning to the origin, a spiritual motivation contributing to creating the strength of great national unity to overcome difficulties; strengthening the community's belief to look towards the future together, building Vietnam to become increasingly richer and more beautiful. Like other localities, the people of Dak Nong province always turn to the origin of the nation with deep respect and gratitude.
Source: https://baodaknong.vn/nho-ngay-gio-to-mong-10-thang-3-248529.html
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