People compete to give lucky money to the 11-year-old female general at the Gióng festival.

TPO - In previous Gióng festival seasons, the young female general received excessive attention from tourists, causing chaos and lack of civility. In recent years, security and order have been tightened to protect the young female general - one of the eight offerings that villages offer to Saint Gióng.

Portrait of 11 year old female general

The Gióng Festival at Sóc Temple always attracts the attention of tourists and locals thanks to its unique and culturally-rich rituals. The Gióng Festival at Sóc Temple 2024 takes place early in the morning of the 6th day of the Lunar New Year.

After the general ceremony, eight offerings from each village were presented at the Dragon yard of the Upper Temple.

This year, Yen Tang village (Bac Phu commune) was chosen to perform the procession of the general. The "female general" is Nghiem Thi Bich Ngoc, 11 years old. Bich Ngoc is a 5th grade student at Bac Phu commune primary school. The chosen "female general" has good academic performance and is trusted and loved by friends and teachers.

The palanquin carrying the female general on the opening day of the festival. Photo: Duy Pham.

The appearance of the palanquin carrying the general was immediately warmly welcomed by the people. Many people tried to raise their phones to take beautiful photos with the 11-year-old "female general". Some tourists even gave lucky money to the palanquin.

During festival seasons, the young female general receives excessive attention from tourists, causing chaos and lack of civility. In recent years, security and order have been tightened.

After performing the ceremony at the temples, the young female general changed her clothes and went home under the protection and supervision of the authorities.

People take photos and wish the "female general" a happy new year. Photo: Duy Pham.

Mr. Nghiem Van Hiep (37 years old) - Bich Ngoc's father - shared: "My family and I are very honored and proud that the village and commune leaders recommended my granddaughter. The criteria for choosing a female general is not simple, she must have both maternal and paternal relatives, both boys and girls, and her family must be spotless."

Mr. Hiep said that he is no longer worried about the young female general being teased. "The commune police force has committed to protecting her during the ceremony. There have been no unfortunate incidents in recent years, so the family is very reassured," Mr. Hiep said.

Strict protection of the procession

According to legend, in Yen Tang area (Bac Phu commune), Saint Giong and the people fought off the remaining enemy troops. Seeing the Heavenly King riding a mighty iron horse, breathing divine fire, and uprooting bamboo bushes to fight, the An invaders trembled in fear.

Arriving at the foot of Soc Mountain, before returning to heaven, Saint Giong drew his sword and killed three enemy generals, to prevent future disasters for his descendants. To express their gratitude, the people of Yen Tang village held a ceremony to welcome the general, forever remembering the Saint for bringing a peaceful and prosperous life to future generations.

At the Gióng festival at Sóc temple, every year a young female general is chosen to sit in a palanquin and participate in the procession.

Security forces were deployed in large numbers. Photo: Duy Pham.

Before the opening day of the festival, the People's Committee of Soc Son district prepared the organization quite carefully. The district police made a plan to ensure security and order from New Year's Eve until the end of the festival, had a plan to organize protection for the bamboo flower procession of Ve Linh village and the betel and areca procession of Dan Tao village, and strictly handled acts that disturbed public order.

The police force is responsible for ensuring traffic safety, regulating and separating lanes to prevent congestion on the roads leading to the festival area. The Health Department and the District Health Center arrange ambulances, doctors, and necessary medicines to serve the festival.

The sacrificial ceremony of villages on the morning of February 15. Photo: Duy Pham.

The representative of the Organizing Committee said that the Management Center of Soc Temple Tourist Area - Relic, People's Committee of Phu Linh Commune (Soc Son District) organized and arranged service activities, did not arrange sales in Area I of the relic, did not let shops encroach on the road, and did not let street vendors.

Ngoc Anh - Duy Pham

Source: https://tienphong.vn/thi-nhau-mung-tuoi-cho-nu-tuong-11-tuoi-o-hoi-giong-post1612381.tpo