A Significant Vietnam Event: Hung King Temple Festival

The Hung King Temple Festival is one of the biggest events in Vietnam after Tet. It is well recognized for being the Hung Kings' passing anniversary. This celebration has a significant connection to the early history of Vietnam. Early collections of myths and legends contained the earliest mentions of the 18 Hung Kings, who lived during the Hong Bang dynasty (2879–258 BC).

With their agricultural and hunting techniques, they are credited with laying the groundwork for Vietnamese civilization and defining the country's character. These monarchs imparted knowledge on how to cultivate wet rice and make harvest-related prayers. Celebrating this heritage recognizes how far the Vietnamese people have come as a consequence. Nowadays, many people think that the Hung King Temple Festival was "created" in the medieval times to distinguish Vietnam's origins from those of China. Regardless, it is obvious that these early recorded accounts borrowed extensively from extant myth and tradition.

WHAT DOES THE HUNG KING FESTIVAL DO

The King Hung Temple Festival is a customary celebration that celebrates King Hung, the first king of Vietnam. "Death Anniversary of the Hung Kings" is the festival's official name. The day recognizes their contribution to Vietnam as the traditional founders of the country and the first emperors, although it does not commemorate the passing of any particular Hung King. Every Vietnamese should use this opportunity to reflect on their roots and to show their ancestors their appreciation and respect. As a result, it is regarded as a national holiday in Vietnam.

The Hung King Temple celebration, or ancestral death of Hung Kings, has long been one of the biggest national holidays in Vietnam. Every year, on the third day of the lunar month, all Vietnamese people travel to Nghia Linh Mountain in Hy Cuong Commune, Lam Thao District, Phu Tho Province to remember the Hung monarchs, whose rule was a remarkable beginning for the creation of the country of Viet Nam as a sovereign state.

An essential component of the celebration, the former is held at the Upper Temple to show the ancestors their respect and appreciation on behalf of the "Dragon and Fairy descendants." Numerous items, including a pig, a goat, a cow, Chung cake, Day cake, and a grand five-fruit feast, are offered as sacrifices. The incense-offering ceremony will be performed by the state delegates, followed by the local elders and pilgrims, after the sound of an antique bronze drum.

The latter involves a merry mingling of both conventional and contemporary activities in and around the temples. The procession marches, the Xoan singing performance in the Upper Temple, and the Ca Tru singing performance in the Lower Temple, however, stand out the most. Many tourists are also drawn to the crossbow shooting, rice cooking, swinging competitions, cock fighting, and dragon dance.

It is reasonable to say that the Hung Temple celebration has evolved into a representation of the power of national unity and a link between the past and present among ethnic groups who "remember the resource while drinking water” in our country's cultural heritage.

WHEN DOES THE HUNG KING TEMPLE FESTIVAL TAKE PLACE

The third lunar month's eighth through eleventh days are when the Hung King Temple Festival takes place every year. The primary celebration day falls on the 10th day of the third lunar March, which is also the day on which the National Assembly authorized giving Vietnamese workers an additional national holiday each year to commemorate the anniversary of the Hung King's passing.

Vietnamese people all around the world get together on this customary day to celebrate their ancestors and honor their brothers and sisters in Vietnam.

The Hung King Temple Festival is one of the most significant and revered holidays among Vietnamese people, profoundly ingrained in everyone's memory regardless of their place of origin.

HOW IS THE HUNG KING TEMPLE FESTIVAL CELEBRATED

Every year, simultaneous offerings are conducted in more than 1,400 Hung Kings temples around Vietnam. At the Hung Temple on Nghia Linh Mountain in Phu Tho Province, some 85 kilometers northwest of Hanoi, the important ritual is held.

To see the celebrations, more than five million people will flock to the province. Before offering prayers and incense to the Hung Kings when they get to the Hung Temple, pilgrims lead a procession up the mountain that stops at each temple along the way.

Numerous traditional sports, including "danh du" (bamboo swings), "nem con" (throw a holy ball through a ring), rice cooking contests, lion dances, human chess games, water puppet shows, wrestling, crossbow shooting, etc., are part of the event. All folk games add to the festival's lively atmosphere and draw a variety of participants. Additionally, locals perform "xoan" singing and "gheo" singing at the event. Visitors to the event may take in these distinctive artistic acts, which were named an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.

During the event, the locals frequently sing in the "gheo" and "xoan" styles. Additionally, various artistic demonstrations are also brilliantly shown on stage.

WHERE IS THE HUNG KING TEMPLE

Vietnam's cultural basis and patriotic traditions were established during the Hung Vuong era, which was a significant moment in the country's history. Actually, the Nghia Linh Mountain, Hy Cuong Commune, Lam Thao District, and Phu Tho Province are where the Hung Kings' Temple is located.

HAS A PUBLIC HOLIDAY SINCE THE HUNG KING TEMPLE?

Since 2007, Hung Kings Commemoration Day has been a recognized holiday in Vietnam. It will take place on the tenth day of the third lunar month in Vietnam.

WHY DO PEOPLE CELEBRATE THE HUNG KING FESTIVAL

With their agricultural and hunting techniques, they are credited with laying the groundwork for Vietnamese civilization and defining the country's character. These monarchs imparted knowledge on how to cultivate wet rice and make harvest-related prayers. Celebrating this heritage recognizes how far the Vietnamese people have come as a consequence.

On top of the 175-meter-high Nghia Linh mountain stands the historic and revered architectural complex known as the Hung Temple. Vietnamese people have the chance to travel to their country of origin thanks to the event.

Ancient and contemporary flags are to be flown along the route heading from Viet Tri to Hung mountain the day before the event. Additionally, a big balloon will advertise the festivities in the neighborhood. 100 floating lights are launched into the night sky on the festival's eve.

The major worship session begins the following morning, on the tenth day, with a performance by 40 or more different villages using bronze drums. To hold the somber national ritual, an incense-offering liturgy will be shown after that.

The occasion includes a spectacular five-fruit feast in Den Thuong (Upper Temple), where the Hung King once worshiped gods in accordance with elaborate rites. The square cake known as Bánh Chng and the round cake known as Bánh Giay are also offered to remind people of the legend of Lang Lieu, the 18th Hung King who is credited with creating these cakes, as well as the virtue of the Hung Kings who taught people how to cultivate rice.

There are numerous marches in the procession, such as the elephant march and the procession chair, in addition to the stage procession for the gods.

The Vietnamese always participate joyfully in the event on the day of the Hung King Temple Festival because they have a strong religious conviction—their love and pride for their ancestral home. Due to its unique traditional cultural events, the Festival not only draws tourists from throughout the nation, but it also serves as a holy journey through the Vietnamese people's history.

We really hope you enjoyed learning about the Hung Kings' Temple Festival with us and learned some interesting cultural facts.

How do you feel about this Vietnamese holiday? Is there a holiday like this one in your nation? Comment below and let us know!

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