The water procession at the Tran Temple festival (Source: VNA)Thai Binh (VNA) – The Tran Temple Festival, one of the biggest annual spring festivals in Vietnam, opened at the national historical complex of the Tran Kings’ shrines and tombs in Hung Ha district, northern Thai Binh province, on February 20 (the 13th day of the first lunar month)
During the first day of the four-day festival, an incense-offering rite at the Kings’ tombs and a ritual for the opening of the gates of Den Thanh (Thanh Temple), Den Mau (Mother Temple) and the Tran Kings’ shrines took place.
They were followed by a water procession, in which about 1,000 people carried nine ornate palanquins with memorial plaques of the Kings of the Tran Dynasty and members of their royal families.
On the opening night, an hour-long performance titled “Sang mai mot vuong trieu” (A Dynasty Shines Forever) recreated milestone events during the Tran Dynasty (1225-1440) to pay tribute to the dynasty’s dedication to the country.
A series of folk games will also be organised during the festival, including a rice-cooking challenge, clay firecrackers, chung (sticky rice) cake making and tug of war.
The Tran Temple Festival was recognised as part of the national intangible heritage in 2014. The historical complex of the Tran Kings’ shrines and tombs received special national relic status last year.
The Tran Dynasty repelled the Yuan-Mongols on three occasions, making it the most brilliant reign in Vietnamese history.
Thai Binh is considered the birthplace of the Tran Kings, while Nam Dinh was their first residential area. A spring festival is also held at the Tran temple complex in the neighbouring province of Nam Dinh during the first lunar month every year.
On the same day, Hung Ha district became the first district of Thai Binh to receive a certificate recognising it a new-style rural district.-VNA
