Worshipping rituals at the death anniversary of Legendary Father Lac Long Quan.

For generations, Vietnamese people have maintained a shared belief that Hung Kings founded the first nation of Vietnam. Hung Kings’ Temple and Hung Kings’ death anniversary have become symbols of patriotism and strength of great national solidarity. The worshipping rituals of the Hung Kings have also become the traditional cultural identity of the Vietnamese people.

Worshiping the Hung Kings is not only a spiritual practice to pray for peace for the nation as well as favourable natural conditions, but also to connect and strengthen the solidarity, love and mutual support among the whole Vietnamese community with one common origin. 

Despite ups and downs of history, the Hung Kings worship ritual is persistently transmitted from one generation to another, creating the strength for the Vietnamese people to overcome difficulties and challenges, thus make the nation immortal and never stop developing.

For generations, Vietnamese people have established temples to worship the Hung Kings at Nghia Linh Mountain in Hy Cuong commune, Viet Tri city, the northern province of Phu Tho, along with many temples in Phu Tho and many provinces and cities which are dedicated to the Hung Kings as well as their wives and children, and generals in the Hung Kings’ reign. 

During the country’s struggle for national independence, the Hung Kings Temple has been protected by dynasties and people while incense offering has been maintained. Since the country regained independence, the Party, the State and people have paid special attention to worshiping the Hung Kings and restoring and upgrading the Hung Kings Temple historical relic site.

The Hung Kings’ death anniversary - Hung Kings’ Temple Festival became a reverence and sacred symbol, gathering and uniting the Vietnamese people. The pride and respect has been multiplied when the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) recognized Hung Kings worship rituals in Phu Tho province as Intangible Cultural Heritage of the Humanity (December 6, 2012). 

The Hung Kings’ Temple Festival associated with Hung Kings worship rituals is annually held on the 10th day of the third lunar month, which is a chance for the practice of worshiping the highest ancestors of the Vietnamese people. During the festival, the Hung Kings Temple on Nghia Linh Mountain welcomes millions of people visiting the ancestral temple and paying tribute to the ancestors.

This year, the Hung Kings’ dead anniversary and Hung Kings’ Temple Festival is hosted by the People's Committee of Phu Tho province with the participation of four provinces of Hanoi, Thai Binh, Ben Tre and Binh Phuoc. The festival ran from April 1-6 or the 5th -10th day of the third lunar month.  

With the goal of developing the Hung Kings’ dead anniversary and Hung Kings’ Temple Festival to a model festival of the country, Phu Tho has focused on organizing the event in a safe and proper manner with solemn and community-spirit rituals.

The festivities included cheerful and sound activities, with close association with traditional and modern cultural activities.

Local people in Tan Uoc commune, Thanh Oai district (Hanoi) at a “banh chung” (square glutinous rice cake) making contest at the Hung Kings’ Temple Festival.

The ritual activities included a ceremony to offer incense to Hung Kings, a ceremony to commemorate the death anniversary of the nation’s legendary father Lac Long Quan, incense offering ritual in tribute to legendary mother Au Co, a palanquin processionand a ceremony to offer incense to the Hung Kings at Nghia Linh Mountain at 6:30am on the 10th day of the third lunar month as practiced traditionally.

Besides the rituals, the festival saw a number of other activities including a photo exhibition to show documents and items offered to the Hung Kings at the temple; a book festival; a bronze drum beating festival; a “dam duong” (rice husking) festival, lion dancing; a cultural camp; a public art and music festival; a “banh chung” (square glutinous rice cake) and “banh day (round cake) making contest, a swim competition at Lo river, and other sport activities.

This year's festival also witnessed many new features such a photo exhibition on "the worship rituals of the Hung Kings in the past and present"; an exhibition of beautiful photos featuring tourism and the land and people of Phu Tho; Xoan singing festival for children in Viet Tri city. 

Earlier, on April 1 at the Van Lang Park, a street festival attracted thousands of participants. The even opened with a dragon dance show and a parade of pink and festive flags performed by 100 young men symbolizing 100 children of the legendary father Lac Long Quan, who belongs to the dragon family, and legendary mother Au Co who belongs to the fairy family, followed by a parade of wards and communes of Phu Tho narrating the Hung Kings’ teaching of people to grow rice, fishing and swim.

Particularly, an art performance themed "Sacred roots – Hung Kings ancestors’ land" was held as the opening of this year’s Hung Kings’ Temple Festival.

The festival has been organized thoughtfully, respectfully and solemnly to educate the public on patriotic tradition and the doctrine of "when drinking water, we remember the source", while showing deep gratitude to the Hung Kings, the predecessors who had built and safeguarded the country, and fostered the national solidarity bloc. 

Through the festival, the two UNESCO-recognised world intangible heritage of "Hung Kings worship rituals" and "Phu Tho Xoan singing" would be promoted. The event also affirmed the efforts of Phu Tho administration and people in preserving and promoting the values of cultural heritage in the land of ancestors.

Viet Ha