The communal house preserves the lifeblood of Cau village.

On April 4th, the traditional festival of Cau village, Phuc Son commune, attracted a large number of local people, those who had left their hometowns, and visitors from all over. The festival not only commemorates ancestors but also strengthens community bonds and provides a place for everyone to remember and cherish.

A large number of local people and visitors from other places came to offer incense and attend the Cau Village Festival (Phuc Son commune). Photo: Kim Nhue

Returning to the old village communal house.

From early morning, the courtyard of Cau village communal house was ablaze with colorful flags, filled with the sounds of drums, music, and the greetings of villagers reuniting on the main day of the festival. Inside the courtyard, the palanquin, incense altar, and ceremonial objects were arranged solemnly. Outside the gate, a stream of people continued to enter, offer incense, and participate in the festivities. Seeing this scene, it's easy to see that the Cau Village Festival is not just a cultural event held annually, but also an opportunity for the community to return to their homeland, to reconnect with their neighborly spirit, and to show reverence to their ancestors.

One impressive aspect for visitors is the ritual of welcoming the tutelary deity of a neighboring village to the festival before the main day. The uniqueness lies not only in the welcoming and farewell ceremonies, but also in the way the villages address each other: always respecting each other as the elder brother, while considering themselves the younger. This simple yet beautiful way of interacting reflects the humility, close bond, and enduring friendship in rural culture.

Under the roof of the village communal house, there is not only the return of children from the homeland, but also the meeting and harmony between close-knit village communities. From this detail, the Cau Village Festival is not confined to the boundaries of a single village, but opens up in the bond, sharing, and mutual respect between neighboring villages.

Villagers of Cau (Phuc Son commune) respectfully offer incense to commemorate their ancestors on the main festival day. Photo: Kim Nhue

The cornerstone of those emotions remains the village communal house. Built in 1837, Cau Communal House sits atop a high mound, with a village pond in front, an ancient banyan tree to the left, and an old well to the right. Through countless changes, the communal house has served not only as a place of worship for the village's guardian deity but also as a meeting place for villagers to discuss community affairs, organize festivals, and welcome those returning from afar. The site was classified as a provincial-level historical monument in 2003 and will continue to be restored and renovated in 2025.

Walking amidst the crowds entering the temple, observing the elderly slowly preparing before the altar, the women receiving offerings, and the young people standing solemnly in the temple courtyard, one can clearly see the value of a temple in rural life. It is not just an ancient structure, but also a place that preserves memories, maintains community cohesion, and provides villagers with a place to return to.

Sharing her thoughts at the festival, Ms. Bui Thi Hien, representing the villagers of Cau who have moved away from their hometown, emotionally stated that each time she returns to attend the village festival, she sees her homeland changing for the better, becoming more spacious and beautiful. Village roads and alleys are clean and tidy, schools and cultural centers are well-invested, and the lives of the people are improving. “What makes me happiest is that while our homeland has changed, the sense of community and neighborly love remains as strong as ever. For those of us who have moved away, returning to attend the village festival means we still have a place to remember, cherish, and be proud of,” Ms. Hien said.

Leaders of Phuc Son commune congratulate the traditional festival of Cau village. Photo: Kim Nhue.

Preserving the traditions of the countryside, maintaining the continuity of the village.

The Cau Village Festival is not only an occasion for those who have left to return home. It is also a time for the younger generation to connect more closely with the history of their homeland, to better understand why their ancestors preserved the communal house, maintained the festival, and cherished every aspect of community life.

Speaking at the festival, Tran Cong Minh said that for the young people of Cau village, the village festival is not only a joyful occasion but also an opportunity to better understand their homeland. “Standing in the festive atmosphere, I understand more clearly why the elders always remind their descendants to preserve the village temple, the festival, and the village traditions. We, as the younger generation, are not only proud but also feel a greater responsibility towards our homeland,” Minh shared.

Currently, Cau Village has nearly 200 households with over 500 inhabitants. The people develop their economy by combining agricultural production with services, small-scale handicrafts, and employment in businesses and industrial zones in Hanoi; many households are engaged in construction, curtain making, and ornamental plant cultivation. Average income reaches approximately 75 million VND per person per year; the village no longer has any impoverished households; village roads and alleys are paved with concrete; a comprehensive lighting system has been installed; the cultural center and environmental landscape continue to improve; and the title of "Cultural Village" has been maintained for many years. These changes provide the foundation for today's festival to be even more heartwarming.

The people of Cau village performed many unique cultural and artistic acts to celebrate the traditional festival. Photo: Kim Nhue

According to Le Truong Huy, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Phuc Son commune, the traditional Cau village festival is not only a beautiful cultural feature of the locality but also contributes to preserving the religious space, fostering spiritual life, and strengthening community bonds. Mr. Le Truong Huy stated that preserving the festival also means preserving a part of the local customs and building a foundation for a more sustainable cultural life in the community.

The festival will eventually end, the drums will fade, and the crowds will thin out behind the village communal house. But what remains is not just the joy of a festival, but the image of a communal house that still attracts people, a traditional village that is still preserved. And as long as the descendants of Cau village continue to return to that communal house, the village's spirit will remain strong, and the homeland will continue to hold a special place in people's hearts.

Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/ngoi-dinh-giu-mach-lang-cau-743122.html