Thang Long's ancient Doan Ngo Festival: Re-enacting royal court rituals

This morning, June 6 (May 1st of the lunar calendar), at the Thang Long Imperial Citadel heritage site, the opening ceremony of the program "Thang Long Doan Ngo Festival of the past" took place.

The Doan Ngo Festival is an annual event held at the Thang Long Imperial Citadel heritage site, to honor the nation's cultural traditions, promote the cultural values of the Thang Long royal court and to bring visitors unique tourism products imbued with traditional cultural imprints.

Opening ceremony of the program "Thang Long Doan Ngo Festival of the past" at Thang Long Imperial Citadel. (Photo: Anh Thu)

Doan Ngo Festival (Doan Duong) is considered one of the most important holidays. Since ancient times, our ancestors have passed down the song "In April, measure beans to cook sweet soup - Celebrate Doan Ngo festival and return in May".

In traditional Vietnamese culture, Doan Ngo Festival is considered one of the most important holidays. Since ancient times, every year on the 5th day of the 5th lunar month, from the majestic and solemn royal palaces to the rustic and familiar countryside, everyone joyfully celebrates Doan Ngo Festival.

The Duanwu Festival in the royal court and among the people has different rituals and customs, but it is an occasion for descendants to return to their roots and remember the merits of their ancestors. Historical sources show that under the Later Le Dynasty, the Duanwu Festival was also an occasion for the king and the royal family to prepare offerings to their ancestors and parents.

The Duanwu Festival is an occasion for the king and royal family to prepare offerings to their ancestors and parents.

In addition to folk customs, the Duanwu Festival also has very unique customs such as offering summer products to ancestors, using food to "kill insects" in the body, picking leaves to make traditional medicine at noon, wearing amulets and five-colored threads, using henna leaves to dye fingernails and toenails, wearing hijab, applying realgar wine to children, hanging the zodiac animal from mugwort, examining trees, etc. These customs are folk experiences with origins directly related to agriculture and weather.

In the program "Thang Long Doan Ngo Festival in the past" in 2024, visitors will experience royal court rituals and offer incense to the former emperors. The royal palace rituals during the Doan Ngo Festival in the Le Dynasty are systematically, vividly and realistically interpreted by the Exhibition Center through the reconstruction of the solemn and respectful royal court space, the majestic emperor sitting on the dragon throne holding court, writing poems on fans and awarding fans to officials.

A ritual at the ceremony. Photo: Anh Thu

In addition, visitors can also participate in folk activities and enjoy traditional dishes such as fruits, ash cakes, realgar wine, etc. The public can also listen to colorful cultural stories about the "insect extermination" custom of culinary artist Anh Tuyet and enjoy the delicate art of tea, and interact with talented tea artists. Through these activities, it contributes to preserving and promoting the value of traditional customs and practices, especially educating the younger generation to better understand and love Vietnamese culture.

In addition, the annual traditional Doan Ngo Festival exhibition area with unique customs of the ancient Thang Long citadel people such as the custom of wearing scented bags, tying five-color thread, applying realgar to children, the custom of picking medicinal leaves at noon, the custom of tying wormwood in the shape of zodiac animals, etc. is still maintained through the re-enactment of miniature images of Hang Quat, Hang Mun, and Hang Thuoc streets.

The program “Thang Long Doan Ngo Festival in the past” is organized with activities of displaying, performing, reenacting unique folk and royal rituals and customs. These are activities that contribute to preserving the good customs of our ancestors, inspiring the quintessence of national culture and educating traditions for the younger generation.

According to VTV.vn

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