The worshipping ritual of the Hung Kings is honoured by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in December 2012. (Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) – On the occasion of the Hung KingsTemple Festival, which falls on April 29 this year (the 10th day of the third lunar month), Vietnamese communities, agencies, andorganisations in countries across the world will celebrate the “Vietnam AncestralGlobal Day” (VAGD).
The annual event, starting in 2015, aims to connect andengage overseas Vietnamese and international friends in activities onpreserving Vietnamese cultural intangible heritage and cement nationalsolidarity.
A ceremony will be held in German on April 24 and anotherin Laos on April 29 with the participation of delegates and overseas Vietnamesefrom nearly 20 countries and territories. The ceremonies will be broadcast todozens of places all over the world via mass media and social networkplatforms.
Within the VAGD framework, incense offering to paytribute to Hung Kings will be held in countries. Other activities include artand musical performances, scientific seminars and workshops, and ceremonies tohonour Vietnamese and foreigners with outstanding contributions to thesocial community, the operation of VAGD Project Board, and the friendshipbetween Vietnam and international friends.
Legend has it that the Hung Kings ruled Vietnam from 2879BC until 258 BC and they are considered the founders of the nation. To honourthe Kings, the 10th day of the third lunar month is designated as theirnational commemorative anniversary date.
The worshipping rituals of the Hung Kings areclosely related to the ancestral worshipping tradition of most Vietnamesefamilies which forms an important part of people's spiritual life. It wasrecognised by UNESCO as the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2012.
The annual Hung Kings’ Temple Festival is usually celebrated by overseasVietnamese like that at home. However, in the past, as expats held thecelebrations sporadically and without a centralised format, they generallyattracted little attention from community members and international friends.
Since 2015, the VAGD Project has moved towardsthree key goals: To preserve and spread the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Hung Kings worship rite abroad; to hold discussions, seminars, and workshopsto connect and promote intercultural exchange between Vietnamese and othercultures in the world; and to build a strategy to spread and populariseVietnamese cultural (spiritual) values in the life of overseas Vietnamese, hostcountries and international friends./.
