Every year on the 7th of January, residential areas in Hung Hoa Town, Tam Nong District will organize a rice cake pounding ceremony to offer to the Mother Temple to express gratitude to the merit of female general Ho Thien Huong. This is a fine tradition that has existed for hundreds of years in the locality.
People of Zone 1, Hung Hoa Town gathered at the Zone Cultural House to prepare to pound rice cakes.
The custom of pounding rice cakes in Truc Phe village (now Hung Hoa town, Tam Nong district) has ancient origins, originating from the legend of Holy Mother Ho Thien Huong - a female general in the Hung King era who built the country and made many contributions to protecting the country.
In 207 BC, Trieu Da attacked Au Lac. Duc Truy ca Dinh Cong Tuan (guarding Ke Gio, now Kinh Ke land, Lam Thao district) was besieged by the enemy. Lady Thien Huong (guarding Truc Hoa Nham Dong, now Hung Hoa town, Tam Nong district) called on the people to pound cakes and rice balls to supply Dinh Cong Tuan's army to break the enemy siege.
After her death, the people of Hung Hoa Town built a temple and passed down the custom of pounding rice cakes to offer to the Holy Mother on the 7th and 8th of January every year. (Scene of the ceremony at the Mother Temple Festival in 2024).
The people pounding the cakes are usually young, strong men in good health. While pounding, the men chant the folk song: "Truc Phe has a banh giay party - On the Asian side, open your mouth, on the other side, the pestle is pounding."
The pounded cake will be cut into even pieces with string.
The cake must be shaped while it is still hot. The artisans will spread a layer of chicken fat over it and then begin shaping it.
The cake is usually round or shaped like a statue with a thickness of 5 - 7cm.
The artisan must knead and rub the cake to make it round and smooth, without the rice grains exploding on the surface.
The finished rice cakes will be carried to the Temple by women dressed in formal attire to offer to the Holy Mother.
The custom of pounding rice cake has become an indispensable spiritual food, connecting the community's spirituality, and preserving the beautiful traditional culture that lasts over time.
Thuy Trang
Source: https://baophutho.vn/tuc-gia-banh-giay-lang-truc-phe-227452.htm
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