HẢI DƯƠNG — A heaven and earth sacrifice ritual was held on February 13 at Ngũ Nhạc Mountain at the Côn Sơn-Kiếp Bạc special national relic site in the northern province of Hải Dương.

The ritual, which is part of the Côn Sơn-Kiếp Bạc Spring Festival 2017, takes place annually on the 17th day of the first lunar month to pray for peace, prosperity and development.

Following the ceremony, local authorities presented five types of cereals -- maize, rice, bean, peanuts and millet -- to participants.

Ngũ Nhạc Mountain, located in Lê Lợi Commune, Chí Linh District, consists of five sacred peaks stretching over 4km. Five shrines are built on top of the peaks to worship the gods of the five directions.

The local authorities decided to restore the shrines on August 8, 2004, to promote cultural values of the relic and attract more visitors. Construction was completed in February 2016, with a pedestrian path system leading to the mountains. —VNS