VietNamNet Bridge – Thinking that if one gets qua phet (bamboo-made balls) at the village festival, he will have good luck in the new year, hundreds of young people chased and even battled to get the balls.

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Cuop phet (ball scrambling) is the highlight of the festival at the temple of female general Thieu Hoa
in Tam Nong district, Phu Tho province, which takes place on the 12^th and 13^th of the first lunar month.

Phet is a bamboo ball painted red to symbolize the sun. People think that if they get
one or more out of the six balls, they will get more good luck.

The youth are very eager to participate.

Thousands of people stand along the Red River dike to see ball scrambling on February 15.

Before cuop phet, a lively scene is performed, featuring a battle against foreign invaders in the past.

Mr. Nguyen Quoc Tham, 79, one of the four generals.

When the first ball is brought to the river bank, young people gather around the ball.
It is said that once the ball is not hidden, anyone who touches it would get bad luck.
Ball robbers, thus, try to approach the ball and wait until it is buried to dig it up.

It turns into a battle.

Some are injured.