According to historical records, in the spring of the year Dinh Hoi (987), Emperor Le Dai Hanh (941-1005), along with his officials and generals, traveled from the capital Hoa Lu to Doi Son to plow the fields, beginning the new year by practicing a beautiful Vietnamese custom: plowing the fields at the beginning of the year, praying for favorable weather, a bountiful harvest... Here, the Emperor personally plowed the fields to encourage farmers to take care of their farming, develop agriculture , and have a prosperous and happy life.
Throughout history, the festival was interrupted for a long period. It wasn't until 2009 that the Tich Dien Festival was restored and has been held annually since then. Since then, every year on the 7th day of the first lunar month, the resounding drums of the Tich Dien Festival resound, attracting a large number of locals and tourists from all over to participate.
Thus, with the profound humanistic perspective of "Agriculture as the foundation," valuing the values of agricultural production, traditional education , and community cohesion, for the past 16 years, the ancient story has been restored and maintained by all levels of government and localities, and is organized during the early days of the new year. Every year, during the Tich Dien Festival, a large number of people and tourists from all over return to Tien Son to participate in the festival. Everyone eagerly awaits the moment to see the image of the "King" plowing, awakening the land, and beginning the new planting season on the fertile fields...
Like many other spring festivals, the ceremonial part of the Tich Dien Festival consists of a series of extremely solemn and respectful rituals. From the announcement ceremony (the ceremony to ask permission from the deities to open the festival), the procession of the ancestral tablet of King Le Dai Hanh from Doi Son Pagoda to the sacrificial altar, the water procession, the purification ceremony, the ceremony to worship Heaven and Earth and the God of Agriculture, the Tich Dien ceremony... all are conducted with utmost solemnity and reverence.
Pham Chi Khang, a craftsman from Doi Tam drum-making village who has had the honor of reading the ceremonial address at the Tich Dien Festival from 2019 to the present, proudly stated: "Plowing is a very familiar task for farmers. But the King plowing is different."
The image of the King personally going down to the fields at the beginning of the new year to plow the first furrows, turning over the soil to awaken the fields that had been dormant after the winter harvest, initiating a new production season, carries profound humanistic significance. This image reflects the spirit of valuing agriculture, setting a good example, and being close to the working people of a wise ruler; it also encourages and motivates the people to diligently work and produce on their own land. “From 2019 until now, I have been chosen to read the ceremonial address at the festival. For me, this is truly an honor and a source of pride to have contributed a small part to the success of this traditional festival,” Mr. Khang proudly shared.
During the Tich Dien Festival, the "king plowing" ritual is the most anticipated and awaited event by locals and tourists alike. Since 2019, the elderly farmer chosen to play the role of King Le Dai Hành has been Mr. Nguyen Ngoc An from Tien Son ward. Sharing his thoughts on this very special role, Mr. Nguyen Ngoc An said: "When I was chosen to play the role of King Le Dai Hành to reenact the story of the king plowing, I was initially very surprised and worried because it's a very important task, not easy to do well. However, with the encouragement of local leaders, the trust and support of the people and my family; especially the respect and gratitude for the wise ruler who personally went down to the fields to plow, encouraging farmers to focus on production..."
For the past six years, I have diligently researched, studied, learned, and practiced to achieve the graceful and dignified gait when stepping onto the platform to respectfully participate in the Spring Festival of Tich Dien, bowing to the God of Agriculture, and performing the ritual to request the entry of the royal spirit; after donning the dragon robe and mask, I went down to the fields to plow the first furrows of land, marking the beginning of the new planting season... In the spring of 2019, I took on the role of the King plowing the fields for the first time in the Tich Dien Festival. With the enthusiastic praise, encouragement, and support from everyone, I knew I had successfully completed my assigned task and felt truly excited and proud.
During the Tich Dien Festival, the image of the king plowing, followed by village girls sowing seeds, received enthusiastic attention and applause from locals and tourists. Many farmers attending the Tich Dien Festival also clearly expressed their joy, excitement, and hopes for a new year of favorable weather, bountiful harvests, peaceful and prosperous villages and hometowns; and happiness and peace for every family...
Besides the solemn ceremony, the festival part of the Tich Dien Festival is vibrant and joyful with a series of activities such as: buffalo decoration painting competition; rice cake making competition; plowing skills competition... along with many folk games such as wrestling, swinging... In addition, the festival space also features stalls displaying, introducing, and selling agricultural and handicraft products made by the skillful hands of the hardworking and resilient farmers of this region.
With its historical significance and value, the Tich Dien Festival was recognized and inscribed as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in 2017. In 2023, the People's Committee of Duy Tien town, Ha Nam province (formerly), in coordination with the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Ha Nam province (formerly) and the Vietnam National Institute of Culture and Arts, organized a scientific conference on "Preserving and promoting the space of the Doi Son Tich Dien Festival in conjunction with national tourism development". The conference aimed to research and understand more deeply, providing a comprehensive overview of the historical value of the Tich Dien Festival; and to propose solutions for further preserving and promoting the value of this national intangible cultural heritage in accordance with the development conditions of the new era.
Affirming the importance of the "Agriculture as the Foundation" ideology, the solemn organization of the Tich Dien Festival over the years has also expressed gratitude and honored the contributions of Emperor Le Dai Hành and the ancestors who pioneered and developed the country's agriculture; reminding today's generation of their responsibility to preserve, protect, and promote the traditions of their forefathers in accelerating the industrialization and modernization of agriculture and rural areas in the đổi mới (renovation) period.
For over a decade, every year on the morning of the 7th day of the first lunar month, amidst the vibrant atmosphere of the early spring, at the foot of Doi Mountain, the resounding drumbeats of the Tich Dien Festival echo with great enthusiasm. In a solemn and sacred atmosphere, the respectful and dignified ceremonial text is recited, leaving a profound meaning in the hearts of the people and visitors attending the festival: “Ancient deeds leave a lasting legacy / The king sets an example for the people / Opening the spring and breaking the ground / He himself plows / Awakening the land / Beginning the planting season / Bringing rice to the people / So that every village and hamlet is well-fed / So that the country is strong and prosperous / Building a foundation of eternal peace...”
Source: https://baoninhbinh.org.vn/choi-xuan-vui-hoi-tich-dien-260209102047954.html
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