Return to the "rice hometown" to see the palanquin flying over the river and spinning in the well.

Performed by: Bao Trung - Quang Phong | February 19, 2024

(Fatherland) - Dozens of young men waded in the water to carry and process the palanquin at the Phuong Vu Pagoda festival ( Thai Binh ), the 9th day of the Lunar New Year 2024.

On February 18 (January 9), the Phuong Vu Temple and Pagoda Festival (Tho Loc village, Minh Khai commune, Vu Thu district, Thai Binh province) opened with the participation of thousands of tourists from all over.

Phuong Vu Pagoda is the place to worship Saint Tu Dao Hanh, a famous Zen master of Vietnam. He was a talented and ambitious person and had many contributions in teaching people about farming. Phuong Vu Pagoda was built about 900 years ago. In 1993, the pagoda was granted a certificate of historical and cultural relic.

The ancients have a saying "The palanquin procession on the ninth day of the first lunar month/The palanquin turns on the river and tilts the sky and earth" to remind us of the Phuong Vu Pagoda festival. The highlight of the festival is the palanquin procession. The Song Loan palanquin, Long Dinh palanquin and the ceremonial palanquin will be carried through rivers, ponds, temples...

24 strong young men were chosen to carry the palanquin. Before that, they had to perform a ceremony to ask for the yin and yang altar on the 6th of January. The palanquin rotated while moving at Tho Loc communal house. The day before the festival, the young men would carry the palanquin back to Tho Loc communal house, and the next day, which was the main festival, they would carry the palanquin from the communal house to Phuong Vu pagoda.

Locals and tourists from all over surrounded the three palanquins as they were moving on the road...

Ponds, lakes, rivers, temples and shrines are the places the three palanquins stop by.

Tho Loc River attracts many people to watch the palanquin rotate on the water.

Each palanquin has a palanquin bearer group of 8 people. These are young men in the village from 18 years old and above, regardless of whether they are single or married. Hundreds of people flock to the pond near the communal house to watch the palanquins being brought down to the water one by one.

When they first got into the water, some of the young men carrying the palanquins appeared to be wincing from the cold. These were volunteers who were assigned to this very difficult task. They had to register months in advance and were chosen by lot in a "divine" style.

For many hours, 24 boys continuously soaked themselves in water, going down to ponds, wading through mud puddles, rivers and fields barefoot.

Under the cold water, the members of the palanquin procession were all soaked, but everyone was happy to participate. A young man shared that although he was very tired, if he could, he would register to participate next year.

The palanquin spinning continues under the witness of many villagers and visitors. The person holding the white flag will command all 8 people to spin the palanquin in the water.

The palanquins were brought ashore after making several turns in the river.

During the ceremony at the temple, the procession continued to wade down the well in front of the temple yard before completing the festival procedures.

Each procession usually ends at exactly noon (12 o'clock). The three palanquins are gathered at Tu Dao Hanh Temple.

This festival is held annually. This is an occasion for the people of Tho Loc and Minh Khai commune to gather and respectfully offer sacrifices to Saint Tu Dao Hanh, praying for the saints to bless them with a prosperous and peaceful life.

Source: https://toquoc.vn/ve-que-lua-xem-kieu-bay-qua-song-quay-tron-duoi-gieng-20240219092339448.htm