The bustling festival at Gẩu Village communal house.

Every year, on the 7th day of the Lunar New Year, the people of Gẩu village, Đống Đa ward (Vĩnh Yên province), eagerly participate in the village festival. According to tradition, early this morning (February 16th), the villagers slaughtered a pig to feast the troops, offering the pig's head as a sacrifice to the deity. The young men and able-bodied villagers were as spirited as soldiers before a battle against the Mongol invaders in the year of Mậu Ngọ (1257).

The afternoon ceremony on February 16th at the Gẩu Village communal house festival.

From the beginning of the year, preparations for the Gẩu Village Temple Festival are underway by the local people, with the preparations starting on the 5th day of the Lunar New Year. On this day, Gẩu village is bustling with activity as families prepare four types of cakes – sticky rice cakes, vegetarian cakes, sweet cakes, and glutinous rice cakes – to offer to the deities. Everyone contributes in their own way, working together with money, resources, and labor to prepare for the festival.

Mr. Hoang Kim Bang, Head of the Management Board of the Gẩu Village Temple relic site, said: “Gẩu village has more than 600 households with over 2,000 inhabitants. The festival is held on the 7th day of the Lunar New Year, when the children and grandchildren are still at home, so they can participate in large numbers, creating a warm and cozy atmosphere. The village organizes a palanquin procession once every two years, but this year it could not be held due to a shortage of manpower and also because many families had funerals during the year.”

The procession of the palanquin is one of the most anticipated rituals by the people of Gẩu village as well as visitors from all over. According to Mr. Bảng, organizing the procession requires more than 60 people. Due to the large number of participants and various reasons, there have been years when the procession could not be held. However, the palanquin is still presented at the communal house for the elders to perform the sacrificial ceremony.

Regarding the legend of Gẩu Village Temple and its festival, according to the elders, on the second day of the Lunar New Year in the year of Mậu Ngọ (1257), seven brothers of the Lỗ family, obeying the king's order, led their army to battle against the Mongol invaders. That night, the generals and soldiers performed a flag-worshiping ceremony, swore oaths, and recruited more soldiers in the Bồ Lý and Hữu Thủ areas (then part of Tam Đảo district). On the morning of the third day of the Lunar New Year, the army passed through Nhân Ngoại (Tam Dương) and was enthusiastically welcomed by the people, who slaughtered pigs to feast the troops. However, before the feast was finished, they received urgent news that the enemy army was approaching.

The seven Lu brothers hastily ordered their soldiers to smear uncooked pork and pig's blood on their foreheads to show their determination to fight and advance to the front lines. The battle against the Mongol army was extremely fierce. The seven brothers and their soldiers killed and drowned thousands of Mongol invaders on the Ca Lo River. The Mongol army was defeated and scattered, but the seven brothers led their troops in pursuit, their momentum like a surging tide and a raging waterfall.

After the country was liberated from foreign invaders, the seven Lu brothers were rewarded by King Tran Nhan Tong with the title of Great King and granted land in the Tam Duong, Dinh Son, and Mieu Due regions. King Tran Nhan Tong bestowed upon all seven the title of "Seven Great Kings of the Left River". From the Tran to the Nguyen dynasties, all feudal dynasties issued decrees honoring the seven Lu heroes and included them in the list of national mountain deities for the people to worship.

The seven Lu brothers are worshipped by the people of many villages along the Red River and Lo River, from the foot of Tam Dao mountain down to the border of Ha Dong (formerly). Vinh Yen city alone has 18 places of worship, including the Gau village communal house in Dong Da ward.

Every year, on the 7th and 8th of January, the people and descendants of Gẩu village, along with visitors from all over, gather to participate in the festival and procession, offering incense to commemorate the merits of the seven heroes of the Lỗ family. Before and after the procession of the royal decrees honoring the seven heroes of the Lỗ family, the local people slaughter pigs, offer sacrifices, and hold a grand feast.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Yen, a resident of Gau village, Dong Da ward, said: “From the 5th day of Tet, all the villagers have been present at Gau village communal house to prepare for the festivities. Everyone does what they are good at – some make cakes, some cook the feast, some set up tents… everyone lends a hand, very enthusiastically and quickly.”

This morning (the 7th day of the Lunar New Year), after the ritual offering to the patron saint, the elders at Gẩu village communal house began the sacrificial ceremony. In the afternoon, local people and visitors from all over came to participate in the ceremony and partake in the offerings. Hundreds of trays of food were prepared by the descendants of Gẩu village to entertain guests, creating a lively and bustling atmosphere during the first days of the new year.

That evening, many cultural and artistic programs were organized by the local people at Gẩu Village Temple. On the 8th, after the thanksgiving ceremony, Gẩu village continued to hold a grand feast. Villages from all over came to join in the festivities, making the Gẩu Village Temple festival even more lively.

For the people of Gẩu village, this is the biggest and most distinctive festival of the year, and also a long-standing cultural custom that has been maintained to this day.

Text and photos: Ha Tran

Source: https://baovinhphuc.com.vn/Multimedia/Images/Id/106800/No-nuc-le-hoi-Dinh-lang-Gau