The unique features of the blessing festival at Ho village communal house.

Traditionally, the festival of praying for blessings at Ho village communal house in Tho Thanh commune (Thuong Xuan district) is held annually on the 13th of February, the 5th of April, and the 21st and 22nd of August according to the lunar calendar, to pray for blessings, peace, and harmony. This is an opportunity for local people and those who have moved away to express their gratitude and remembrance of the contributions of the two supreme deities Le Phuc Truc and Le Phuc Chan, who played a key role in reclaiming land and establishing the village.

The unique features of the blessing festival at Ho village communal house. The procession of the palanquin from the village gate to the communal house at the Ho Village Communal House Blessing Festival.

Historically, Ho Village communal house was built when the village was founded. In 1635, it was rebuilt using bamboo and thatch. It underwent its first renovation in 1907, followed by another in 1927, and was completed in 1937. Located in present-day Hong Ky hamlet, Ho Village communal house is dedicated to two revered deities, Le Phuc Truc and Le Phuc Chan, who were recognized by the imperial court for their contributions to land reclamation and settlement. Later, the villagers also worshipped Le Phuc Thanh, a native of Dong village who studied and passed the doctoral examination during the reign of King Le Thanh Tong, Quang Thuan era (1478), and was known as Le Thanh, the local doctoral scholar and high-ranking official. The structure of the communal house includes a gate, courtyard, and main hall, measuring 19m in length, 9.7m in width, with 5 bays, 2 wings, 6 wooden trusses, and 4 rows of columns. The temple is exquisitely decorated and sculpted with soft, graceful lines and moldings, such as the crossbeams, main beams, connecting beams, supporting beams, and rafters. Figures of mythical creatures like phoenixes, tigers, horses, dragons, and lotus flowers are also elaborately carved, symbolizing the country, the nation's origins, national fertility, and the joyful reunion of the people.

The Ho Village Temple Blessing Festival consists of two parts: the ceremonial part and the festive part. In the ceremonial part, the village organizes a procession of palanquins from the village gate to the temple, offering sacrifices to the village guardian deity and other gods, praying for national peace and prosperity, favorable weather, and bountiful harvests. While the ceremonial part of the Ho Village Temple Blessing Festival is solemn and dignified with full worship rituals, the festive part is diverse and rich, featuring traditional folk games and performances such as: chess, human chess, wrestling, cockfighting, blindfolded duck catching, football, volleyball, etc.

The festival at Ho village communal house is an occasion for villagers to express their reverence to their ancestors who contributed to the reclamation and development of this land. It is also an opportunity for local people to strengthen their bonds of community and neighborly affection, encouraging each other to develop the economy and build a more prosperous and happy village.

Text and photos: Khanh Linh

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