May 03, 2017 | 21:42 (GMT+7)
Giong festival attracts visitors
The Giong Festival began in Phu Dong village, Gia Lam district, Hanoi, on May 2 or the seventh day of the fourth month of the lunar calendar, attracting many tourists.
A procession at the festival
The event is held annually between the seventh and ninth day of the fourth lunar month to commemorate Saint Giong, a local hero who defeated invaders.
It is celebrated with processions, rituals and performances.
The Vietnam Culture and Art Sub-Institute said, “The festival follows a format written in an ancient book called Hoi Le (Festival Regulations), which was passed down through the generations.”
The main day of the event falls on the ninth, when flags are carried from the Mother Temple to the Upper Temple and sacrifices are made. People perform ritual dances and songs, while battles against the invaders are re-enacted.
UNESCO recognized Vietnam’s Giong festival as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2010.
Vietnam has nearly 8,000 festivals a year, of which 88.36 percent are folk festivals, 6 percent are religious festivals and 4 percent are historical events.
Source: VNA