Preserving the spirit of the Tịch Điền ceremony in the ancestral land.

Amidst the crisp spring air of the ancestral land, while the peach blossoms still retain their vibrant colors, the people of Viet Tri ward eagerly prepare for the "King Hung Teaches the People to Cultivate Rice" festival – a traditional ceremony deeply rooted in the Hung King era. In 2026, the festival will be organized on a large scale and in a systematic manner, demonstrating the determination of the local government and people to preserve and promote the unique intangible cultural heritage of the homeland of the Hung Kings.

The festival takes place at the historical site of Dan Tich Dien (now located in Viet Tri ward) - a place associated with the legend of the Hung Kings encouraging agriculture, teaching people to cultivate rice, and initiating the rice-based civilization of the Vietnamese people. More than just a spring planting ceremony, the festival is also a symbol of the diligent work ethic and the will to build and defend the nation of our ancestors.

The "King Hung Teaches the People to Cultivate Rice" festival is one of the typical festivals of Viet Tri ward.

The "King Hung Teaches the People to Cultivate Rice" festival in the Spring of 2026 (Year of the Horse) is organized to honor the great contributions of the Hung Kings in the early days of nation-building, especially their pioneering role in agriculture – the foundation of sustainable development for the Vietnamese people. Through maintaining and standardizing traditional rituals, the local authorities hope to fully preserve the historical and cultural value of the festival; and at the same time, gradually develop the festival into a distinctive cultural and tourism product of the locality, linking preservation with the development of agricultural economy and services.

This year's festival organization was carried out seriously and systematically, ensuring solemnity, economy, and adherence to traditional rituals. The ceremonial part was conducted with reverence; the festive part was joyful and wholesome, creating an atmosphere of excitement for the people at the beginning of spring. This year's festival is expected to mobilize approximately 160 participants in the rituals, selected from 7 residential areas and schools in the former Minh Nong area.

The procession included: 18 young men carrying ceremonial flags symbolizing the 18 generations of Hung Kings; a group of middle-aged and elderly male ceremonial officiants; a traditional music ensemble; teams carrying spears and palanquins; 14 women offering sacrifices in traditional ao dai costumes; 18 women participating in a rice planting demonstration; and characters playing the roles of Hung Kings and their attendants. The ceremonies were conducted in the traditional order: the Announcement Ceremony (afternoon of the 14th day of the first lunar month) and the main ceremony on the morning of the 15th day of the first lunar month of the Year of the Horse (2016).

The procession started from Khanh Nguyen Pagoda, marching to Dan Tich Dien in a sacred and solemn atmosphere. The highlight of the festival is the ritual of going down to the fields, reenacting the image of King Hung encouraging agriculture, with young women planting the first rice seedlings of spring - a symbol of fertility, abundance, and prosperity. Beyond its cultural value, the festival also opens up a direction for sustainable agricultural economic development.

The Minh Nong and Tan Duc agricultural cooperatives were tasked with maintaining the cultivated area for the festival; and at the same time, monitoring, nurturing, and developing several traditional rice varieties into distinctive local commercial products.

This is a concrete step in linking cultural heritage with economic and tourism development, contributing to improving people's lives. Alongside the ceremonial part, there was a festival featuring the wrapping and cooking of banh chung (traditional Vietnamese rice cakes) and pounding of banh giay (traditional Vietnamese rice cakes) – dishes associated with the legend of Lang Liêu during the Hung King era. The activity attracted 11 teams representing various residential areas, creating an atmosphere of unity and community cohesion.

The competing teams, representing various residential areas, participated in the festival, spreading the spirit of unity and community solidarity.

Comrade Tran Thi Thu Huyen - Head of the Culture and Social Affairs Department of Viet Tri Ward, said: To ensure the festival takes place safely and solemnly, the People's Committee of the ward has established an Organizing Committee, assigning specific tasks to each department such as: ensuring security and order, environmental hygiene, food safety, propaganda and promotion, and social mobilization of resources. In particular, propaganda work in schools is emphasized, helping the younger generation better understand the value of the Dan Tich Dien historical site and the meaning of the traditional festival. Through this, it fosters national pride and cultivates an awareness of preserving the cultural identity of the homeland.

The procession of offerings by the local people.

Amidst the ever-changing pace of modern life, maintaining a traditional agricultural festival is not only an annual cultural activity but also a practical way to preserve community memories. The "King Hung Teaches the People to Cultivate Rice" festival not only reminds us of our origins but also conveys the aspiration for a bountiful harvest, national peace and prosperity, and the development of our homeland.

In the spring of 2026, on the Dan Tich Dien rice fields, the green rice seedlings being planted not only mark the beginning of a new harvest season but also instill in people a belief in the continuity of tradition and the enduring vitality of the ancestral land's culture for thousands of years.

Huong Giang

Source: https://baophutho.vn/giu-hon-le-tich-dien-noi-dat-to-248451.htm