Speaking at the ceremony, Comrade Vu Van Huong, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Kien Thuy commune, emphasized that the Minh The Festival is not only a traditional cultural and religious activity, but also a celebration of morality, reminding us of honesty, integrity, and fairness—core values ​​that foster the spiritual strength of the nation.

The ceremonial ritual was conducted solemnly. Photo: Kien Thuy Commune People's Committee.

The Minh The Festival, with a history of nearly 500 years, takes place annually from the 13th to the 15th of January in Hoa Lieu village, Kien Thuy commune. It is a national intangible cultural heritage (since 2017), famous for its unique ritual of swearing an oath before deities regarding integrity and the fight against corruption, unlike anything else in Vietnam.

At the festival, delegates and visitors witnessed a unique and unparalleled ritual. The chief priest used a knife to draw a large circle, symbolizing "pointing to the sky and marking the earth" in the middle of the Oath Platform. Afterwards, village officials and elders offered incense and prayed to heaven, earth, and the village guardian deity; a representative of the literati read the Oath Proclamation.

The proclamation stated: "If public funds are used for public purposes, the gods will support us. But if, out of greed, public funds are used for private gain, may the gods strike us dead! As per the oath…". Finally, the master of ceremonies performed the ritual of slaughtering a rooster, mixing its blood into a wine flask, and inviting everyone to drink the wine and swear the oath.

Representatives of the literati read the Oath of Allegiance. Photo: People's Committee of Kien Thuy Commune.

This year, the festival, held over three days from January 13th to 15th, was organized on a solemn and safe scale, with meticulous preparation, preserving the essence of the sacred rituals. The festival included many unique folk games…

    Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/van-hoa/doi-song/doc-dao-le-hoi-the-khong-tham-nhung-1028331