Hung Kings Temple festival opens in Phu Tho
Monday, April 19, 2010 (GMT+7)
To honor the country’s founding fathers, the holy Hung Vuong, the annual Hung Kings anniversary is held on the 10th day of the third lunar month (April 23rd, 2010). And the Hung Kings Temple Festival kicked of in Phu Tho on April 14.
The first event of The national commemoration of the Hung Kings and the Hung Kings Temple Festival was held by the Cultural, Sports and Tourism Festival of northeastern provinces.
Speaking at the opening ceremony at the Hung Kings Temple, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan remarked that the festival is a vivid manifestation of national unity and shows respect toward Vietnam’s founders. He added that the festival connects the past, the present and the future of Vietnam.
The ceremony opened with a flag dance, a national martial arts performance, and the procession of the 18 votive tablets of the 18 Hung Kings. Ten trays of offerings brought from across the country were also presented.
As part of the festival, over 1,000 professional and amateur artists joined an art performance entitled “Hung Kings’ Holy Ancestral Land”, which was sponsored jointly by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Phu Tho People’s Committee.
According to legend, the Vietnamese nation named Van Lang was founded by Emperor Hung Vuong about 40 centuries ago. The Hung dynasty lasted for 18 generations and led Vietnam toward development.
To honor the country’s founding fathers, the holy Hung Vuong site was built in 250BC in Phu Tho and has since become one of the most popular sites in the country. The annual Hung Kings anniversary is held on the 10th day of the third lunar month.
The dynasty made many outstanding achievements including founding an independent nation and establishing several administrative, social and economic institutions.
Photos shot at the opening ceremony:
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| The dance about the foundation of Van Lang country. |
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| Lac Long Quan and Au Co, the legendary parents of Viet people. |
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| The Hung King. |
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| The King showed the people how to plough the field. |
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| People with prosperity. |
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Banh chung and banh day (Vietnamese rice cakes) which symbolize the earth and the heaven.
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| A dance performed by a dancing troupe from a northeastern province. |
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| Dong Son bronze drums. |
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| President Ho Chi Minh and soldiers. |
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| Offering rituals to Hung Kings. |
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| And the final firework show. |
VNE