VietNamNet Bridge – Last year Hanoi had several festivals, but this year, after being merged with Ha Tay province, the capital city will have many more festivals, starting in the first lunar month of 2009.

Playing King Quang Trung and his wife, Princess Le Ngoc Han at the Dong Da Festival.

The Co Loa Festival will take place in suburban Dong Anh district from the 6-16^th of the lunar January to commemorate King An Duong Vuong, who was removed from the throne by the last Hung King. An Duong Vuong built the ancient Co Loa citadel, ruled Au Lac for 50 years in the 3^rd century B.C.

The festival will feature many ancient rituals such as a king procession, sword ceremony, and deity processing rituals. It will also have many folk games and cheo, ca tru singing contests.

The Dong Da Festival is scheduled for the fifth of the first lunar month to celebrate King Quang Trung’s defeat of Chinese invaders. The major activities will take place at the Khuong Thuong Temple while the requiem will be held at the Dong Quang Pagoda, Hanoi. The festival will also have folk games and contests.

The Tram Gian Pagoda Festival in Tien Phuong commune, Chuong My district is a Buddhist festival organised from the 4^th to 6^th of the first lunar month, with a palanquin procession, water puppetry and wrestling contests.

The Huong Pagoda Festival in Huong Son commune, My Duc district is the longest festival in Vietnam, which runs from the 6^th of the first lunar month till the 25^th of the third lunar month. The festival welcomes visitors from throughout the country who come to pray for luck and to visit the famous Huong Son landscape.

The Quan Thanh Festival in Thong Nhat commune, Thuong Tin district will take place on the 8^th of the first lunar month, worshipping Thanh Giong, who defeated foreign invaders to protect the country. The event will have a thurible ceremony and human chess.

The Dau Pagoda Festival in Nguyen Trai commune, Thuong Tin district will run from the 8^th to the 10^th of the first lunar month, where local people pray for luck.

Te Chuong Village Festival in Phuong Trung commune, Thanh Oai district will be held on the 10^th of the first lunar month to celebrate national hero Phung Hung. The festival will have a palanquin procession, rice cooking contest, etc. Chuong village is very famous for making non (palm-leaf conical hat).

The Do Festival in Tuyet Nghia, Quoc Oai was organised every 36 years in the past. It has currently become an annual event, running from the 10-15^th of the first lunar month to commemorate Tan Vien Saint, who taught the villagers to sing Do songs. The festival will have boat races, puppet shows and Do singing contest.

The Da Si Village Festival in Kien Hung commune, Ha Dong will take place from the 12^th to 15^th of the first lunar month to commemorate the credit of the village’s tutelary god, who was also the ancestor of the black smith occupation, Mr. Hoang Don Hoa.

The Tay Dang Temple Festival in Tay Dang town, Ba Vi district will be held on the 15^th of the first lunar month to commemorate the Tan Vien Saint and his two assistants, Cao Son and Quy Minh.

The Va Temple Festival in Van Phu commune, Ha Dong town and the La Khe Village Festival in Van Phu commue, Ha Dong,will open on the 15^th of the first lunar month with various folk games and rituals.

This year, from January 31 to March 9, the Hanoi Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism will inspect the organisation of 15 outstanding festivals in Hanoi, including the festivals at the Huong Pagoda, Co Loa, Soc Temple, Dau Pagoda, Boi Khue Pagoda, Va Temple, Tay Ho Temple, Tram Pagoda to prevent violations.

Tuan Hai