Pilgrimage to ancestral land
Foods made from pork, beef and goat meat are essential components of the offerings, as planting and livestock breeding were major sources of income from the very first day of primitive Vietnam. In traditional rituals, pilgrims offered sticky rice square cakes (banh chung), circle cakes (banh giay) and a plate of sticky rice.
To the constant rhythm of bronze drums, pilgrims euphorically follow the procession to the Upper Temple (Den Thuong) where rituals to worship deities are held. Next in the major procession to the Upper Temple are vibrant marches. Marches from various communes and villages in the proximity of the Hung Temple flock to the temple to show their respect and commemoration for the Hung Kings for teaching people how to grow rice.
The Plain Sticky Rice Cake (square and circle cakes) March memorialises the 18th Hung King, who first invented these cakes for his father on the Lunar New Year festival. The Elephant March symbolises the Hung Kings' power of taming animals as well as controlling natural powers.
One of the outstanding marches typical of the Hung Kings' Death Anniversary is the Palanquin March, which features plenty of colourful flags and banners. It is a great march, gathering people from villages around the Hung Kings' Temple, located on Nghia Linh Mountain towards the Lower Temple (Den Ha). All the marches demonstrate the descendants' respect and thankfulness to the Kings for building and defending the country.
Alongside these sumptuous processions, visitors are offered a chance to enjoy a wide range of time-honoured diversions while attending the festival, including regattas, rice cooking, swinging contests, cock fighting and dragon dancing.
Various folk-singing parties, bringing together singers from different areas across the country, are organised on this occasion. Performance of Xoan songs (a classical type of song) and Ca Tru (a kind of classical opera), for example, enchant thousands of music lovers.
Such specialties as Doan Hung grapefruits, Phu Tho tea and Tam Dao pineapples, together with handicraft products of many provinces, are also showcased at the festival.
The Hung King's Death Anniversary, a sacred pilgrimage back to the origins of the Vietnamese culture, has become a national festival. It is deeply embedded in the mind of every Vietnamese and draws the participation of not only people from localities nationwide but also overseas Vietnamese.
To welcome visitors to the festival, the organising committee has worked to upgrade infrastructure and improve post and telecommunication services.
