Exciting opening ceremony of traditional festival of Dinh Chem

Located on the bank of the Red River, full of alluvium, Chèm Temple (also known as Chèm Temple, Lý Hiệu Uy Temple, Thủy Hương Temple) has gone through the ups and downs of more than a thousand years of history. Chèm Temple worships the main deity Hy Khang Thien Vuong Ly Ong Trong, and his concubine Bach Tinh Cung. Ly Ong Trong was born in Chem village, and served as an official during the Hung King and An Duong Vuong periods;

Not only did he fight and defend the country during both dynasties, but he also helped the Qin king defeat the Huns. The Nom script stele at Dinh Chem (composed by Doctor Nghiem Xuan Quang in the second year of Khai Dinh) recorded the merits of Saint Chem and the mountains and rivers forever.

Chairman of Bac Tu Liem District People's Committee Nguyen Huu Tuyen delivered the opening speech of Dinh Chem Festival. Photo: Hien Luong

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the festival, Mr. Nguyen Huu Tuyen, Chairman of the People's Committee of Bac Tu Liem District emphasized: "For thousands of years, Dinh Chem has been a place of worship for the people of three villages: Lang Chem (Thuy Phuong Ward), Hoang Village and Mac Village (now Hoang Xa and Hoang Lien residential groups, Lien Mac Ward). The traditional Dinh Chem Festival, also known as the Dharma Festival, aims to pay tribute and commemorate the soldiers who sacrificed for the country, held from May 14 to 16 every year."

The festival is a close combination of the worship of the village's tutelary god with the ancient beliefs of agricultural residents. Therefore, the Dinh Chem festival plays a particularly important role in the spiritual and cultural life of the people of the three villages of Chem, Hoang, and Mac in particular and the people of Bac Tu Liem district in general; it is a creative product that demonstrates community cohesion; passed down from generation to generation, with a strong influence on the cultural life of the people in the area...

The delegation got on the boat to perform the water procession ceremony.

Water procession ceremony on the Red River.

The 2024 Dinh Chem Traditional Festival will be held at the district level for 3 days, from June 19-21. Within the framework of the festival, there will be typical activities such as: Water procession on the Red River, procession of literature, bathing ceremony, bird releasing ceremony (releasing pigeons); competitions: cooking sweet soup, swimming, human chess, tom diem and the Dinh Chem art program "Sacred traces of the ancient land"...

To ensure the festival takes place safely, the leaders of Bac Tu Liem district requested the leaders of Thuy Phuong and Lien Mac wards and the festival organizing committee to ensure security and order, prevent superstition, ensure food hygiene and safety, and prevent fires and explosions...

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/ha-noi-nhieu-hoat-dong-dac-sac-tai-le-hoi-truyen-thong-dinh-chem-post299916.html