Watch wrestling matches at the beginning of the year in Hue.

On the morning of the 6th day of the Lunar New Year, the village square of Thu Le, Quang Dien commune, Hue city, gradually filled with people as soon as the festival drums sounded. A circle of people quickly formed around the sand wrestling ring. Outside, young men in loincloths warmed up, waiting for their names to be called. The first wrestling festival of the year began in the familiar, lively atmosphere of a village bordering the lagoon.

In the past, young men went to the arena not only to celebrate the spring festival but also to train their strength.

The wrestling festival in Thu Le has existed for generations. Villagers say that in the past, young men came to the arena not only to celebrate the Lunar New Year but also to train their strength. Over time, the village custom became a festival. Every year, after a few quiet days of Tet, the sound of the wrestling drums seems to urge them to step onto the village square.

The opening match was quick. The two young wrestlers immediately exchanged blows as soon as they entered the ring. A surprise leg-trapping move sent their opponent tumbling backward, sending sand flying amidst cheers. Nguyen Van Phu, 23, wiped his sweat and said succinctly, "We've been training together since before Tet. Getting to compete at the beginning of the year is great, and losing is also fun."

Looking around this year's wrestling arena, it's easy to see that although the number of wrestlers has decreased significantly, the main force remains young people. Some are construction workers, some work in tourism , and some have just returned home for Tet (Lunar New Year) after working far from home. They meet each other in the same sand ring. There, there are no occupational or age barriers, only strength and agility.

The wrestling arena was set up in front of the village temple.

An elderly man who had been watching from the beginning remarked that in recent years, he had sometimes worried that the wrestling festival would attract few participants. But this year, the fact that there are still people in the ring shows that village festivals are not easily extinguished," he said, half-jokingly.

In fact, the story behind the wrestling arena is not just about winning or losing. When young men enter the competition, they bring a surge of energy to the festival. The cheers around the village square therefore not only encourage a wrestling match, but also the continuation of a community activity.

In another corner of the crowd, Le Hoang Nam, a tourist from Hanoi , watched each match intently. He said he had traveled to many places during Tet but rarely saw a festival as intimate as this one. The matches followed one another throughout the morning. The rules of folk wrestling are simple: whoever makes their opponent "fall on their back with their belly exposed" wins.

Looking at the wrestling arena, one thing is clear: the festival's appeal lies in the opportunity it provides for young people to showcase themselves to the community. They enter the arena with confidence, and upon leaving, whether they win or lose, they still receive pats on the back from the villagers. It is this very moment that prevents the wrestling festival from becoming merely a performance.

This year's wrestling festival ended early, leaving attendees with a sense of nostalgia. In today's fast-paced world, there aren't many opportunities for people to return to their village communal house. Therefore, the Thu Le wrestling festival at the beginning of each year is not just a New Year's celebration; it's a way for the community to see themselves reflected in each other.

DUONG QUANG TIEN

Source: https://nhandan.vn/xem-dau-vat-dau-nam-o-hue-post944153.html