Festivals coming up in October

For very long time, festivals has come into the life of Vietnamese as special culture, therefore, it also attracts many tourists in Vietnam travel each year.

October is coming and vietnamtourism.org.vn would like to introduce with who are interested in Festivals of Vietnam as well as Vietnam culture, especially for tourists in Vietnam travel about special festivals in this month.

1. Thang Village Festival in Bac Giang

Time: The 7th day of the ninth lunar month. (Equipvalent to 3^rd October 2011)

Place: Thang Communal House, Duc Thang Commune, Hiep Hoa District, Bac Giang Province.

Objects of worship: Khong Minh Khong (the bonze of Ly Dynasty) - the ancestor of forge and Duong Tu Minh (a general of Ly Dynasty).

Characteristics: Sacrifices-offering ceremony and displaying forge instruments, contest of running to vie for flags, vying for ball and giving a feast to the troops in the middle of communal house's yard

2. Con Giang Festival in Thai Binh

Time: 9th day of the ninth lunar month. (Equipvalent to 5^th October 2011)

Place: Thai Ha Commune, Thai Thuy District, Thai Binh Province.

Objects of honour: Quach Huu Nghiem, a famous cultural activist in Thai Binh during the 15th century.

Characteristics: Procession, worshipping, wrestling, martial art, cock fighting.

3. Ha Dong Festival in Thai Binh

Time: From the 9th to the 15th day of the ninth lunar month. (5^th - 11^th October 2011)

Place: Thuy Son Commune, Thai Thuy District, Thai Binh Province.

Objects of worship: Nguyen Uy and his mother, King An Duong Vuong, Mai Cong Phuc.

Characteristics: Procession from Mau Temple to communal house (dancing and beating ngu lien drum). The rite of procession is held in daylight; incense and flower offering is held at night. Traditional folk games: Chinese chess, wrestling, cock fighting, duck catching, trai racing.

4. Tu Cac Festival in Thai Binh

Time: The 10th day of the ninth lunar month. (Equipvalent to 6^th October 2011)

Place: Thai Hoa Commune, Thai Thuy District, Thai Binh Province.

Objects of honour: Ly Nam De - King of Van Xuan (in the Early Ly Dynasty).

Characteristics: Celebrating the victory day of defeating Luong troop, establishing Van Xuan country. The festival involves a procession and pig offering, swinging, wrestling.

5. Keo Hanh Thien Pagoda Festival in Nam Dinh

Time: From the 13th to the 15th day of the ninth lunar month. (9^th - 11^th October 2011)

Place: Hanh Thien Village, Xuan Hong Commune, Xuan Truong District, Nam Dinh Province.

Objects of worship: The Buddha and Zen Buddhist Khong Lo - the ancestor of bronze casting, who was talented in doctoring, literature, poetry, architecture and had merit in serving the King and country.

Characteristics: Incense-offering ceremony, worshipping, praying, dragon dance, boat racing on Hong River (only for man).

6. Keo Pagoda Festival in Thai Binh

Time: 13th to the 15th day of the ninth lunar month. (9^th - 11^th October 2011)

Place: Duy Nhat Commune, Vu Thu District, Thai Binh Province.

Objects of worship: Buddha, Buddhist monk Khong Lo.

Characteristics: Two big festivals in a year (Spring festival and Autumn festival). Big procession describing the legendary story of Monk Khong Lo; trai rowing races, rowing - on - land dance.

7. Co Le Pagoda Festival in Nam Dinh

Time: From the 13th to the 16th day of the ninth lunar month. (9^th - 12^th October 2011)

Place: Co Le Townlet, Truc Ninh District, Nam Dinh Province.

Objects of worship: Zen Buddhist Nguyen Minh Khong, the ancestor of bronze casting.

Characteristics: Buddha and patron saint worshipping, boat racing on Dao River, water puppetry shows, boi chess playing.

8. Dinh Thay Temple Festival in Binh Thuan

Time: From the 14th to the 16th day of the ninth lunar month. (10^th - 12^th October 2011)

Place: Dinh Thay Temple, Tan Hai Commune, Ham Tan District, Binh Thuan Province.

Objects of worship: Thay and Thim, wife and husband who had merit of treating disease for poor people.

Characteristics: Vegetarian meal worshipping in the everning of the 15th day, vegetarian meal and meat meal worshipping on the 16th day, sortileging, casting a horoscope.

9. An Lac Festival in Thanh Hoa

Time: The 19th day of the ninth lunar month. (Equipvalent to 15^th October 2011)

Place: Tho Xuan District, Thanh Hoa Province.

Objects of worship: Tutelary god Hien te Anh Linh Hoa Nuong.

Characteristics: Vegetarian meal, oan (truncated cone of sticky rice), fruits, votive paper things, sacrifices - offering ceremony in three days.

10. Dai Bai Festival in Bac Ninh

Time: The 29th day of the ninth lunar month. (Equipvalent to 25^th October 2011)

Place: Dai Bai Commune, Gia Binh District, Bac Ninh Province.

Objects of worship: Nguyen Cong Truyen - the ancestor of bronze casting and silver carving.

Characteristics: Head of families bring bronze and silver carving products to offer to the altar; incense offering to the ancestor, incense burning ceremony of people of the same age (49 years old), a dao singing, throwing and vying for bong tree.

11. Bac Le Temple Festival in Lang Son

Time: The 20th day of the ninth lunar month. (Equipvalent to 16^th October 2011)

Place: Tan Thanh Commune, Huu Lung District, Lang Son Province.

Objects of worship: Ba Chua Thuong Ngan (goddess of mountain), co (girls), cau (boys).

Characteristics: Procession of co Bo Bac Le from Keng Temple to Bac Le Temple (co Bo goes to serve the mother Thuong Ngan), len dong (go into a trance), hau bong (séance or get into a trance and act as a medium).

12. Vong Thi Festival in Hanoi

Time: The 30th day of the ninth lunar month. (Equipvalent to 26^th October 2011)

Place: Vong Thi Village, Buoi Ward, Tay Ho District, Hanoi.

Objects of worship: Muc Than who had merit of saving King Ly Nhan Tong on West Lake.

Characteristics: Worshipping, cock fighting, tuong singing.

13. Tho Hoang Hamlet Festival In Hung Yen

Time: The 1st day of the tenth lunar month. (Equipvalent to 27^th October 2011)

Place: Tho Hoang Hamlet, An Thi Town, An Thi District, Hung Yen Province.

Objects of worship: Tutelary god of hamlet Bui Dao Vuong Phuc Than who had merit of assisting Trieu Quang Phuc in fighting Luong troops.

Characteristics: Offerings are incense and flower, vegetarian meal, banh day; singing and fun games.

Hong Tam

(Collected)