HÀ NỘI — New-year writing, buffalo decorating, Đuổm Temple and Mother Âu Cơ Festivals are among the many cultural activities that take place across Việt Nam in the upcoming festival season of the lunar new year.

The new-year writing festival in Hà Nội was celebrated in Chu Văn An Temple in Thanh Liệt Commune, Thanh Trì District on Wednesday. The event began with a purifying ceremony to pay tribute to Chu Văn An (1292 – 1370), who was known as “a role model for teachers throughout the ages” because of his moral standards and excellence in teaching.

According to Nguyễn Hữu Độ, the director of Hà Nội’s Education and Traning Department, the festival aims to promote learning and respect for knowledge.

It is also the occasion to remind youths of their roots, promote their patriotism and morality.

Five words were chosen to be written during the festival this year by the Ministry of Education and Traning, Hà Nội’s People’s Committee and the Education and Training Department of both Hà Nội and Thanh Trì District, including Nhân (compassion), Nghĩa (righteousness), Trí (wisdom), Dũng (bravery) and Liêm (honesty).

Similar festivals were celebrated in other provinces; including the northern provinces of Hải Phòng, Quảng Ninh and central province of Nghệ An. Held annually every lunar New Year after Tết, the festival has become a cultural highlight in Việt Nam.

Locals in the northern province of Hà Nam have joined the festival atmosphere nationwide by celebrating the Buffalo Decorating Contest within the annual Đọi Sơn Tịch Điền (ploughing) festival on the fields of Đọi Tín Village in Duy Tiên District. The contest attracted 20 artists from across the country and two artists from Spain and France.

As a unique cultural event, the festival is expected to encourage local agricultural development. It also aims to introduce the local ploughing festival to more domestic and international visitors.

The province also held other cultural activities, including wrestling, stalls offering local specialties and traditional games.

One of the biggest festivals of the northern province of Thái Nguyên, Đuổm Temple Festival also kicked off in Đuổm Village in Phú Lương District.

Held on the sixth day of the first lunar month, the festival aims to honour national hero Dương Tự Minh, who ousted invaders and defended frontiers of the motherland in northern Việt Nam under the Lý dynasty (1009-1225).

The event consists of a ceremony, traditional games and local delicacies.  

Đuổm Temple Festival was recently named as National Intangible Cultural Heritage by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

A festival commemorating the nation’s legendary Mother Âu Cơ opened yesterday in Hiền Lương Commune in the northern province of Phú Thọ.

In addition to the ritual, the festival offered visitors a chance to take part in folk games and enjoy traditional arts performances.  — VNS