A lively Independence Day celebration in the hometown of General Vo Nguyen Giap.

It's unclear when exactly, but in the rice-growing countryside of Le Thuy, Quang Binh province, a cheerful and lively folk song has emerged: "No matter where people go, east or west, on the 2nd of September, everyone longs to return home. Return home to see the festival in our village, with boat races on the river and flags flying in every house."

Every September 2nd, Le Thuy district comes alive with the traditional boat racing and swimming festival (Photo: Nhat Anh).

Many people still say that Le Thuy is the place with the biggest Independence Day celebration in the country, where the festivities last for months. During this time, the entire Le Thuy region becomes bustling with a series of cultural and sporting activities. Especially noteworthy are the traditional boat races and rowing – a spiritual tradition deeply ingrained in the blood of the people of Le Thuy.

From the beginning of August, when the sound of gongs echoes from the river, the festive atmosphere begins to envelop everything. In the villages, people stay up day and night preparing for the festival. Village cultural centers and main roads are lit up at night as young men practice swimming races, play volleyball and football qualifying rounds, and participate in cultural performances…

Mr. Nguyen Van De, residing in Xuan Thuy commune, Le Thuy district, shared that the people here are proud to have two major festivals each year: Lunar New Year and Independence Day. Independence Day is an occasion for children to turn their thoughts towards their homeland, remembering the contributions of President Ho Chi Minh, General Vo Nguyen Giap, and those who sacrificed themselves to win independence for the nation.

In Le Thuy, banners, slogans, and flags filled the air, creating a joyful atmosphere rarely seen elsewhere (Photo: Nhat Anh).

"During this time, most families in Le Thuy offer incense, flowers, cakes, fruits, and local produce to their ancestors. The most anticipated event during Independence Day is the boat racing festival on the Kien Giang River," Mr. De said.

It is known that after the successful August Revolution of 1945, on September 2nd, 1946, the people of Le Thuy organized a "Independence Day celebration" and a boat racing festival on a district-wide scale. Since then, every September 2nd, the Kien Giang River resounds with cheers, drums, and gongs, with fierce competitions between racing boats on the river, becoming an indispensable part of the cultural festivities.

The traditional boat racing festival is a spiritual experience deeply ingrained in the blood of the people of Le Thuy (Photo: Nhat Anh).

Nguyen Van Thang, one of the long-time swimmers of Quy Hau village, Lien Thuy commune, Le Thuy district, said that competitive swimming is a combination of many different factors, making it difficult to predict the outcome. But as a village swimmer, once he gets on the boat and holds the oar, he is always determined to do his best to bring glory to the village.

Historian Dr. Nguyen Khac Thai, who has spent many years researching the history and culture of the traditional boat racing festival on the Kien Giang River, explains that the festival originates from spiritual culture associated with agricultural communities.

Initially, it was a "prayer for rain" ceremony aimed at praying for favorable weather, abundant harvests, etc. After the successful August Revolution, the traditional boat racing festival on the Kien Giang River was organized to celebrate the nation's Independence Day.

Mr. Dang Dai Tinh, Chairman of the People's Committee of Le Thuy District, said that during the National Day celebrations on September 2nd, many activities took place in the locality, such as: offering incense at the General Vo Nguyen Giap Memorial House; men's and women's volleyball tournaments; a cultural program with the theme "Kien Giang - A Song of Pride"; a trade fair, etc.

On this September 2nd occasion, many locals and tourists came to offer incense and pay tribute to the General's contributions (Photo: Nhat Anh).

Particularly on the morning of September 2nd, the traditional boat racing festival took place on the Kien Giang River. This year's festival featured 24 men's rowing boats and 10 women's racing boats, competing on a 24km (for men) and 18km (for women) race course.

The festival has become deeply ingrained in the consciousness and spirit of the people of Le Thuy, attracting the participation of tens of thousands of local people and tourists from within and outside the province.

This is an opportunity for the locality to promote and showcase the image of the land and people of Le Thuy - the hometown of General Vo Nguyen Giap.

Source link: https://dantri.com.vn/van-hoa/ron-rang-tet-doc-lap-tren-que-huong-dai-tuong-vo-nguyen-giap-20230901160427276.htm