Dong Nhan temple festival

Dong Nhan temple festival Time: February 4-6 of the lunar calendar. Location: Dong Nhan Temple, 12 Huong Vien, Dong Nhan ward, Hai Ba Trung district, Hanoi. Objects of worship: Hai Ba Trung. Dong Nhan Temple Festival is one of the major festivals of our country, held to commemorate the two sisters Trung Trac and Trung Nhi - outstanding heroines who raised the flag of rebellion against the Eastern Han army to gain independence for the nation. The two women were from Me Linh (now Me Linh district, Hanoi). In the years 40 - 43 AD, when the Eastern Han Dynasty was ruling harshly over Vietnam, the Eastern Han Dynasty governor, To Dinh, killed Thi Sach - the husband of Mrs. Trung Trac. Hating the enemy oppressing the people and killing her husband, the two women raised the flag of rebellion and received support from the people everywhere to expel the Eastern Han army, took over 65 districts and cities (the entire territory of Vietnam at that time) and proclaimed themselves kings. In 42 AD, the Eastern Han dynasty sent general Ma Vien to bring troops to retake Vietnam. The two women's forces were weaker and had to withdraw to Cam Khe (now in Thach That district, Hanoi) to hold out for nearly a year. When they couldn't stand it anymore, the two women ran to the area where Hat Mon temple is now (Hat Mon commune, Phuc Tho district, Hanoi) and jumped into the Hat river to commit suicide on the 6th day of the second lunar month. When they died, the two women turned into stone statues that floated on the Red River to Dong Nhan beach (Thanh Tri, Hanoi) and often glowed brightly at night. In 1142, during the reign of King Ly Anh Tong, after the king learned about the glowing statue, he ordered Dong Nhan villagers to take red cloth to bring her statue and build a temple right at Dong Nhan beach along the river. Later, because the river bank gradually eroded, the temple was in danger of collapsing, so the villagers moved the temple to the Vo So area (used during the Le Dynasty as a place to practice and compete in martial arts) in Huong Vien village (now Dong Nhan ward, Hanoi). Dong Nhan villagers outside the beach also followed the temple to a new place to worship the two women. Dong Nhan Temple Festival is held from the 4th to the 6th of the second lunar month every year, the main festival is February 5 - 6. Every 5 years there is a large festival, attracting many people and tourists from all over to attend. February 4: In the morning, the elderly men of Dong Nhan ward in traditional costumes held the worshiping ceremony and offered offerings to the Saint to open the festival. Next, there is a ceremony of offering tea and wine to the harem according to ancient customs, performed by the elderly women. Next, the Dong Nhan ward women's altar team performed the incense offering ceremony. February 5: From 6:00 a.m., amidst the sounds of drums, gongs, fan flags, and colorful parasols, the procession goes to Nguyen Cong Tru street and then to the banks of the Red River, arriving at the Hai Ba shrine on Bach Dang street and stopping the palanquin. The water procession team carries 2 boats to the waiting boat, then row the boat to the middle of the stream, scoop water into the pair of boats (the water brought back will be boiled with agarwood for the ceremony of bathing the statue and offering to the Saint). After that,  the water procession team rowed the boat to shore and then joined the main procession to return to the temple. When the procession has settled down at the temple, the female priesthood team performs the incense offering ceremony for the Saint. After the funeral, there is a lantern dance performance, performed by ten girls wearing scarves, wearing black ao dai, red belts, holding two lamps in both hands, dancing in front of the altar. Leading the dance team is a "flattering whore" played by a man pretending to be a woman, wearing a white shirt and pants, a turban, a tambourine, a bunting on his back, and "flattering" hands, leading the movements of the lantern dancing team in a soft and graceful way. In the evening, the Moc Duc ceremony takes place at 7:00 p.m. with the six offerings performed by monks (offering six offerings of incense, flowers, lamps and candles, tea, and fruit). February 6: In the morning there is a tableau performance, recreating the scene of Hai Ba Trung riding elephants to fight the enemy. Next, a meeting to welcome the commune mandarins back to celebrate the council was held. According to traditional custom, at exactly 12 noon, the vegetarian meal of the owner and the villagers is brought in to celebrate the Holy Mass. Next is the council offering ceremony of the 4 communes and wards concluding: Dong Nhan, Me Linh, Hat Mon, Phung Cong.  At the end of the festival is the closing ceremony of the temple by the Dong Nhan men's worship team in the late afternoon. During the festival, there are also many activities organized such as: singing quan ho on boats, singing adoration, martial arts performances, whip dancing, chess competitions, cockfighting...