Dong Bo Dau Temple Festival

Impressive traditional features at Dong Bo Dau Temple Festival Dong Bo Dau Temple Festival is a form of traditional cultural activity in Thong Nhat commune, Thuong Tin district, Hanoi, on January 8 of the lunar calendar every year. The festival takes place with many unique activities imbued with national traditions, attracting many guests to participate. Dong Bo Dau Temple is the most famous ancient temple in the region. Historians of the Nguyen Dynasty compiled the book "Dai Nam Nhat Thong Chi" and ranked Dong Bo Dau communal house as one of the 36 oldest temples and shrines in the former Ha Tay province. On February 6, 1979, Dong Bo Dau Temple was ranked as a historical and cultural relic by the People's Committee of Ha Tay province. In 2011, it was recognized by UNESCO as one of eight places worshiping Phu Dong Thien Vuong as a representative intangible cultural heritage of humanity. Every year, on the 19th day of the 9th lunar month, after the last flood, the villagers hold a festival to worship the gods. Legend has it that this is the transformation day of the Thien Vuong. On January 8 of the lunar calendar this year, the festival at Dong Bo Dau Temple officially took place with the participation of a large number of local people as well as guests from many places. There are many folk games here such as: Canoeing to catch ducks, swimming competition on the Red River and the most unique is still the stick dance to worship the Saint. The dancing stick is a piece of bamboo 2.5 - 2.8m long. The participant holds the stick halfway around the stem so that if the opponent hits the cane, the stick slides on the surface of the bamboo stem and does not hit the supporter's fingers. Each pair of boys had their heads wrapped in scarves, their waists tied with red ribbons, their legs tied with leggings, standing with canes in front of the temple door. When the signal is given, they use their feet to kick the stick up, hold the stick in their hands, dance out, and then dance back in. Dance in a circle three times to greet the gods and the viewers; Then perform the basic exercises, with as many dancers as possible, sticks twisted in their hands. Not only are there games, the festival is also bustling with activities imbued with traditional culture such as singing quan ho, swinging on long bamboo panels... and many other unique activities. Mr. Hoang Anh (in Hanoi) shared after participating in the festival: "The Dong Bo Dau Temple Festival has many unique cultural activities, with many traditional features. I felt very impressed when participating and experiencing the activities here. As a lover of culture, I think young people should spend time experiencing activities at festivals in many regions to both expand their knowledge and have more interesting memories. After two years due to the epidemic, activities are still organized very methodically and meticulously, and people are also very conscious of disease prevention as well as environmental protection."