Cam Hai Dinh Dinh Festival

Quang Ninh: Dinh Cam Hai Festival The festival is held from 29-5 to 2-6 lunar calendar every year, in Cam Hai commune (Cam Pha town). Along with the procession ritual, at the festival, there is a boat race of the villages in the commune. Cam Hai village communal house also expresses the wishes of the people in the commune about a year of rain and wind, peaceful and prosperous life. The village communal house was immigrated by the people of Tra Co (Mong Cai) to Cam Hai commune in 1980 and the festival was held every year to honor and commemorate the merits of the six tutelary gods who were publicly born to Tra Co land (Mong Cai City). Legend has it that there were 12 fairies from Do Son (Hai Phong City) to the North to establish a business. Coming to Mong Cai waters, they encountered a big storm, the boat drifted into the deserted land without people. Life in the new land is so miserable, 6 people in the group decided to return to Do Son. 6 people decided to do fishing nets and formed a fishing village. Later, the villagers of Ton 6 fairies were tutelary gods and worship at Tra Co communal house. In 1979, people in Trang Lo and Trang Vi villages of Tra Co emigrated to Cai Low village (Van Chau commune, Van Don - now Cam Hai commune, Cam Pha Town) established a new village and contributed money, contributed to the construction of Cam Hai communal house in 1980. Since then, the Cam Hai communal house festival has been held annually, becoming a tradition, into a meaningful cultural activity of local people people At the communal house, the people of Cam Hai Ton revered the palanquin 6 great king with very solemn rituals. The palanquin team was carefully selected from the young men in the village. Accompanying is a team of weapons, flags, bowls, bowls ... and people in the commune with tourists from all over the world. The procession is very bustling, attracting the participation of thousands of people. In addition, the Cam Hai communal house festival has another very unique ritual is the procession of "elephants". This is a respected way of local people about the procession of 6 pigs. The 6 pigs were selected by the village and assigned 6 men in the village to take care of the village. The selection of pigs and choosing farmers must also follow very strict regulations. "Ong elephant" must be Mong Cai boars, white fur. The one who was chosen to raise "Mr. Elephant" was a one -wife man (in case of leaving his wife, or his wife who died to get another wife was eliminated). This man in that year did not share a bowl of chopsticks with anyone. When going away from the village, you have to bring rice and drink rice, not to eat, not to eat dog meat, or animal organs. Even the time when the "elephant" farmer did not cut his hair, because when he cut his hair, he was held by others, or rubbed it leading to the loss of sacred ... As for the "Mr. Elephant", must also eat with its own pots, specially cared for. In the first 6 months, the "elephants" ate normally, but 6 months later the "he" was able to eat rice and put his mouth, or ate pho, porridge depending on the liking of each "man". Therefore, the "elephants" are palanquin, weighing from 2.2 to 3 quintals. Participating in the procession of "elephants" are nearly a dozen healthy young people and still have to rest many times. After the festival, the "elephants" were slaughtered, prioritized for the people in the village to buy first, when they did not buy it all to sell out. Legend has it that people who eat "Mr. Elephant" will have a lot of luck, health and a year of a good business./.