Strange procession of palanquin wading through ponds and trampling rice fields at the beginning of the new year

On the morning of February 18 (January 9), the Phuong Vu Temple Festival (Tho Loc village, Minh Khai commune, Vu Thu district, Thai Binh province) was held, attracting thousands of people to attend.

The festival attracts visitors from all over the world with its strange procession, wading through water, rivers, ponds and trampling on rice fields. In small alleys, along the way, many families set up offerings in front of their gates to worship the saint.

The most special and interesting feature of the festival is the procession of three palanquins named Song Loan, Long Dinh and Le palanquin. There are 24 young men in the main procession and from 4 to 8 reserve men. They are called the "patron" team.

The palanquin is carried from the communal house through the temple, on the way the procession will stop at a number of houses whose owners have contributed to the temple. This year, the palanquin will stop at the home of Mr. Thang in Tho Loc village, which he also visited last year. However, according to Mr. Hiep (the assistant), during the procession, the procession leader cannot know in advance where the palanquin will stop.

The most popular attraction is a lotus pond next to the temple, where the attendants have to wade in the mud for about 15 minutes.

After all three palanquins are on the water, they are allowed to go ashore one by one. Usually, the whole team tries to carry them even though they are tired, because if they keep changing the reserve person to carry them, the palanquin will take longer to lower, for spiritual reasons.

Nguyen Van Hong Khang suffered from cramps while soaking in the pond. He was immediately supported by the Organizing Committee and switched to a reserve palanquin to carry the palanquin. "Khang has participated in the procession for many years, but this incident was unavoidable. "Almost every year someone gets cramps," said Hiep, a palanquin carry member.

Wherever the palanquin went, hundreds of people followed.

After the procession started from the temple to Phuong Vu pagoda, the village road was packed with people.

Thousands of people crowded both sides of the river, waiting for several hours to see the procession pass and wade into the river.

During the process of bringing the palanquin down the river, unfortunately many items inside the palanquin fell into the water.

Each palanquin stays in the river for about 15 minutes before being brought ashore.

Luckily today the temperature in the North is warm, about 25 degrees Celsius so the procession is not soaked in the cold.

After coming up from the river, one of the three palanquins was carried on the rice field where young rice seedlings were still being planted.

A young man fell into the water while trying to bring the palanquin from the field to the shore.

After coming up from the river, the procession headed to Phuong Vu Pagoda.

Before bringing the palanquin to its solemn place in the temple, the young men immersed themselves in the large well one last time.

The ceremonial palanquin was the first to finish its journey. After about half an hour, the Song Loan and Long Dinh palanquins arrived at the temple.

This festival is held from January 7 to 10 every year. This is an occasion for the people of Tho Loc and Minh Khai commune to gather and respectfully offer sacrifices to Saint Tu Dao Hanh, praying for the saints to bless them with a prosperous and peaceful life.

Source