Carrying the palanquin of the 11-year-old 'female general' at the Gióng festival

On the morning of February 15, the Gióng festival at Sóc temple 2024 officially opened at the special national relic site of Sóc temple (Sóc Sơn district, Hanoi ). This is one of the major festivals in Hanoi , recognized by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage in 2010.

People carry palanquin to Soc temple

Before the opening ceremony this morning, tens of thousands of visitors from all over the country flocked to Soc Temple to perform the ceremony and offer incense.

On behalf of the organizing committee, Chairman of the People's Committee of Soc Son District Pham Van Minh beat the drum to open the festival. After the eulogy, there was a procession and a sacrificial ceremony of the villages. The 8 offerings presented by the 8 villages at the Giong Spring Festival of Giap Thin were presented to Saint Giong, including: a divine horse (iron horse), a butt bridge, betel and areca nuts, a war elephant, elephant tusks, elephant grass, a general's palanquin and a bamboo flower basket.

Each offering to thank Saint Giong has an interesting origin and carries a deep cultural and spiritual meaning. Among them, the most notable is the palanquin carrying the female general.

Nghiem Thi Bich Ngoc was chosen as the "female general" in the palanquin procession of Yen Tang village.

According to an old custom, after defeating the invading An army, before returning to heaven at the foot of Soc mountain, Saint Giong used his sword to kill three enemy generals to prevent future disasters for his descendants. To show their gratitude, the people of Yen Tang village (Bac Phu commune, Soc Son district) held a ceremony to welcome the generals to bow and thank Saint Giong.

This year, the "female general" chosen by Yen Tang village to perform the procession at the opening ceremony is Nghiem Thi Bich Ngoc (11 years old, 5th grade student at Bac Phu Primary School).

To be chosen as a "female general", Ngoc was a good child and good student for many years, loved by teachers and friends. Besides, her family is also a cultured family, living in harmony with neighbors, having a stable economic life.

Iron horse is carried into the temple

Funeral oration read before the temple when offerings are presented

War elephants offered to Saint Giong

The "female general" sat on a palanquin and was carried to the Upper Temple to thank Saint Giong.

Because curious people came to watch, the "female general" was protected very strictly.

Tourists flock to the festival

The offerings brought

Crowds of people put money in and perform rituals in the temple.

Source link: https://thanhnien.vn/ruoc-kieu-nu-tuong-11-tuoi-tai-hoi-giong-185240215132320859.htm