Images from the festival show three palanquins "flying" down into the water in Thai Binh.

Images from the festival show three palanquins "flying" down into the water in Thai Binh.

Sunday, February 18, 2024, 12:44 PM (GMT+7)

On the morning of February 18th, dozens of young men waded through the water to carry and parade the palanquin at the Phuong Vu Pagoda festival, the 9th day of the Lunar New Year of the Year of the Dragon 2024.

The Phuong Vu Pagoda Festival (Minh Khai commune, Vu Thu district, Thai Binh province), held from the 7th to the 10th of January, attracts a large number of visitors from all over.

The highlight of this festival is the water procession of three palanquins: Song Loan, Long Dinh, and Kieu Le, on the morning of the 9th day of the first lunar month.

Earlier, local people visited Phuong Vu Pagoda to celebrate the spring festival and pay their respects. The organizers said this is the second consecutive year the festival has been held after being suspended due to Covid-19.

Twenty-four strong young men were chosen to carry the palanquin; before that, they had to perform a ritual to seek guidance from the yin-yang divination on the sixth day of the first lunar month.

The palanquin rotates as it moves through Tho Loc village communal house. The day before the festival, young men carry the palanquin back to Tho Loc village communal house, and the following day, the main day of the festival, they carry it from the communal house to Phuong Vu pagoda.

Locals and tourists alike crowded around the three palanquins as they moved along the road...

...and then "flying" down to rivers, ponds, and lakes.

Ponds, lakes, rivers, temples, and shrines are some of the places the three palanquins visited. The Tho Loc River attracted many locals who came to watch the palanquins rotate underwater.

Even in sections of the river where the water was head-deep, the procession had to move on.

The organizers said that the 24 young men who carry the palanquin have had three days to rest and prepare for the festival.

Each procession usually ends precisely at noon (12 PM). The three palanquins are gathered at the Tu Dao Hanh temple.

Tourists capture memorable moments of the festival.

Phuong Vu Pagoda is located within the Phuong Vu temple complex. According to historical accounts, Saint Tu Dao Hanh came to this land to teach the people how to cultivate crops. He saw a piece of land shaped like a phoenix spreading its wings and dancing. Recognizing the auspicious location, he built a pagoda to worship Buddha. According to the village elders, the festival is an occasion for people to gather, respectfully offer prayers to Saint Tu Dao Hanh, and pray for a prosperous and peaceful life.

An Binh

Source: https://danviet.vn/hinh-anh-le-hoi-co-3-chiec-kieu-bay-xuong-nuoc-o-thai-binh-2024021812433002.htm