THANH HÓA — A worship ceremony dedicated to Heaven and Earth was held for the first time after 617 years at Nam Giao Worship Platform built during the Hồ Dynasty in 1402 in the central province of Thanh Hóa on Wednesday.

The ceremony was in the framework of the 617th anniversary of the Dynasty (1402-2019) and death anniversary of Emperor Hồ Quý Ly (1336-1407) and part of a series of events organised this year to celebrate the 990th anniversary of the province’s naming.

The worship ceremony reflected a part of the ancient ritual conducted by the Hồ Dynasty in the past.

The ceremony included two parts: guest welcoming and worship activities. The latter had three functions of receiving gods, worshipping gods and farewell to gods.

The event gathered thousands of Hồ descendants from across the country, locals and tourists.

The ceremony was followed by a folk art performance.

Historical documents say Nam Giao Worshipping Ceremony was one of the most important rituals under feudalism. The ceremony praises Heaven and Earth gods to confirm the power of the kings, who were assigned by Heaven and Earth to manage the country and people. Only the kings had the right and morality to conduct the worship ceremony.

Under the reign of Hồ Quý Ly, the king conducted the ceremony every year to wish for prosperity.

The Nam Giao Platform at Hồ Citadel in Thanh Hóa Province is among three most ancient and intact worshipping platforms of its kind in the country.

The platform was built in August 1402 in today’s Vĩnh Lộc District, 2.5km to the southeast of famed Hồ Citadel, a UNESCO’s World Culture Heritage site.

The platform covers 2ha, leaning against Đún Mountain and looking over Nam Giao rice field.

The platform has several levels, smaller from the foundation to the higher levels.

A well-polished stone path leads to the platform, which was mainly built by blue stones and baked clay bricks and tiles.

The first worship ceremony was held at the platform in 1402.

On this occasion, Thanh Hóa Cultural Heritage and Antiques Association also hosted the death anniversary of Emperor Hồ Quý Ly, who conducted a series of reforms in the country, then named Đại Việt. — VNS