According to historical records, in 987, King Le Dai Hanh visited the area near Doi Mountain and Chau River, personally plowing the first furrow of the year. This event marked the beginning of the Tich Dien Festival, which has since been considered a national ceremony to encourage agricultural labor and production.
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A village elder reenacts the role of King Le Dai Hanh plowing the first furrow at the Tich Dien Doi Son Festival 2025. |
After being discontinued for many years, the Tich Dien Doi Son Festival was revived in 2009 and has been maintained ever since, attracting great interest from locals and visitors alike.
The Tich Dien Doi Son Festival 2025 began with processions of flags and palanquins heading to the field where King Le Dai Hanh once plowed, symbolizing encouragement for rice cultivation and agricultural care. After the rituals to honor the God of Agriculture and pray for favorable weather and abundant harvests, the event featured a drum performance by the women’s drum team from Doi Tam village, accompanied by a dragon dance.
The ceremony recreated the scene of King Le Dai Hanh plowing the field, a role performed by a village elder, followed by young women sowing seeds. Wearing traditional farming attire, local officials and residents participated in the plowing ritual, symbolizing the start of a prosperous farming season.
In addition to the main ceremony, on the fifth and sixth days of the Lunar New Year, the festival included various spiritual rituals such as a water procession, a peace-praying ceremony at Doi Son Pagoda, and so on.
The festive part of the event featured engaging activities such as sports competitions, folk games, buffalo painting contests, giay cake making contest by Doi Tam village clans, plowing contests, and exhibitions showcasing outstanding agricultural and handicraft products from Duy Tien town and Ha Nam province.
Translated by Chung Anh