A lively procession of palanquins to Hung Temple.

On April 15th (the 7th day of the 3rd lunar month), at the Hung Kings Temple historical site in Viet Tri city ( Phu Tho province), the Organizing Committee of the 2024 Hung Kings Commemoration Day held a procession to Hung Kings Temple to pay tribute to the merits of the Hung Kings and other ancestors who contributed to the founding of the nation.

The procession of palanquins to Hung Temple during the Hung King Commemoration Day - Hung Temple Festival is a traditional ritual that has been maintained and preserved for thousands of years by the villages surrounding the historical site. Photo: Ta Toan/TTXVN

This is one of the activities aimed at honoring the value of the Hung Kings worshiping belief in Phu Tho, which has been recognized by UNESCO as a representative intangible cultural heritage of humanity; and at the same time, reflecting the traditional rituals that have been maintained and preserved for thousands of years.

At exactly 7:30 AM on April 15th, the procession of palanquins from the communal houses and temples of 7 communes and towns surrounding the Hung Temple historical site, including Hung Lo, Kim Duc, Hy Cuong, Chu Hoa communes and Van Phu ward (Viet Tri city), Tien Kien commune and Hung Son town (Lam Thao district), took place at the Ceremony Center, Hung Temple Historical Site.

The procession of palanquins to Hung Temple recreates the cultural and religious activities of the people of the ancestral land, associated with the worship of ancestors. At the same time, the ceremony enriches and attracts folk cultural activities during the Hung King's Commemoration Day; it awakens national historical pride and cultural traditions, aiming to educate awareness, the spirit of national unity, and the moral principle of "drinking water, remembering the source," and "eating the fruit, remembering the tree planter."

The procession of palanquins from communes, wards, and towns in the surrounding areas to the Hung Temple National Special Historical Relic Site. Photo: Ta Toan/TTXVN.

The procession is arranged in the following order: Leading the way is the lion dance troupe, followed by the procession carrying the national flag and ceremonial banners, the procession carrying small sacred flags; young women carrying offerings, incense, and flowers; a group playing gongs and drums, a traditional music ensemble and coin dance troupe, the procession of the eight treasures, the procession of parasols and canopies, the palanquin bearers, the chief priest, and officials... Leaders of communes, wards, and towns, along with elderly people wearing traditional silk robes and turbans, participate in the procession with the people. The offerings include incense, flowers, fruits, sticky rice cakes (bánh chưng and bánh giầy), and local products...

Amidst the resounding drumbeats and the graceful sounds of the cymbals, young men and women, elders, and villagers, resplendent in their traditional long robes, silk trousers, and headscarves, displayed joyful and eager expressions. Locals and visitors alike enthusiastically watched the procession, creating a vibrant and cheerful atmosphere that was both sacred and intimately familiar, reflecting the communal spirit in the religious beliefs and processions of the villages surrounding Hung Temple, leaving a lasting impression on visitors.