Bắc giang
Xuong Giang Festival recognised as national intangible cultural heritage
Bold historical - cultural - spiritual imprints
The Xuong Giang Victory in 1427 ended 20 years of Ming Dynasty’s domination, helping Dai Viet (Great Viet) become peaceful and prosperous, opening up a new period in the nation's history. In that common joy, Kinh Bac (Bac Dao), where Xuong Giang Citadel is located, enjoyed good fortune and held a big festival to beg heaven and earth to bestow blessings on the people.
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Processions participate in the 596th anniversary of Xuong Giang Victory (1427-2023) Festival. File photo. |
From then on, the people of Xuong Giang region have organised the festival on the sixth and seventh days of the first lunar month. This is also the occasion for the ancient villages here to organise village festivals, arousing pride in this victory, and a requiem at a temple in Xuong Giang Citadel for Lam Son heroes and soldiers who died in the battles.
The festival takes place not only in the area around Xuong Giang Citadel such as Thanh, Ve and Hoa Yen (old name) villages but also other wards in Bac Giang city. The festival center is the Xuong Giang Victory special national relic site. For many years, the festival has been organised on a large scale by the Bac Giang city People's Committee.
From early on the sixth day of the first lunar month, the city's wards and communes take turns carrying palanquins and offerings to Xuong Giang Temple for the opening ceremony. Over time, the palanquin procession is still preserved with the participation of many people of all ages, recalling the heroic spirit of the Xuong Giang Victory in the past.
The festival begins with exciting activities at the relic center such as singing quan ho (love duet), cheo (traditional opera) and ca tru (ceremonial singing), calligraphy performances, screening of cartoons about the history of the Xuong Giang Victory, and folk games.
On this occasion, the people of Xuong Giang ward and surrounding areas are not only excited to attend the hometown’s festival but also proud of a big festival bearing bold historical – cultural – spiritual imprints.
Ready for festival opening day
With such historical significance, in November 2023, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism decided to include Xuong Giang Festival in the list of national intangible cultural heritages.
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Xuong Giang Drum Club in Xuong Giang ward practices for the opening day of the festival. |
According to Nguyen Huu Dinh, Vice Chairman of the city People's Committee and head of the Festival Organising Committee, this is an honour and pride for the people in Bac Giang city.
This Year of the Dragon, the city will organise the 597th anniversary of the Xuong Giang Victory and announce the decision recognising the Xuong Giang Festival as a national intangible cultural heritage on the evening of the fifth day of the first lunar month, one day earlier than the festival opening date every year.
The festival space in the evening will be more sparkling, creating conditions for a large number of local residents and tourists from everywhere to attend the event before starting the first working day of the new year.
On the morning of the first lunar month’s sixth day, there will be a procession, a bell ringing ritual, and festive activities. This year, instead of the epic art programme like previous years, a special art programme will be held with the participation of many famous artists. According to the Festival Organising Committee, at this time, the preparation work has been basically completed, ensuring the plan.
The streets of the city are filled with spring colours. In the excitement of welcoming the new year, local people and many tourists look forward to attending the Xuong Giang Festival, where they will respectfully offer incense to commemorate the heroes and ancestors, recall the heroic spirit of Xuong Giang, and wish for peace and prosperity.
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