The Hung Kings did not like to go... hot air balloon!

(Baonghean) -Today I just read on the internet that the Hung King Commemoration Ceremony 2014 refused to accept two giant offerings, including a flag and a hot air balloon. Records of records and offerings of record size were also not accepted, with the reason that the appearance of giant offerings in previous years caused a negative effect, causing disgust to visitors.

I remember 4 or 5 years ago, there was a very popular program called "Strange Stories of Vietnam". At that time, I spent all day waiting for the day and hour to watch the TV to see the person with the longest hair in Vietnam, the biggest banh chung in Vietnam, the biggest pair of vases in Vietnam, etc. etc. Human psychology is curious about new and strange things. After a while, the strange stories program "cooled down", and now it has disappeared. Something so strange, when it becomes boring, is easily forgotten.

Hung King's death anniversary.

At first glance, I may be babbling because what does the Hung Kings' Commemoration Day have to do with "Strange Stories of Vietnam"? It doesn't seem that way. My nephew insisted that his parents take him to see the Hung Kings' Commemoration Day because "people said there was a pair of giant banh chung and banh day, setting a Vietnamese record". Ask him about the Hung Kings' Commemoration Day or the story of banh chung and banh day, he probably wouldn't know, maybe he would think of a 21st century version of the story of giant banh chung and banh day? It's sad to say. Because a Hung Kings' Commemoration Day, with the good meaning of preserving a cultural feature, expressing respect for one's roots and honoring history, has now become a fair, an exhibition for people to see flowers and point out for fun. It's no different than saying that the Hung Kings' Commemoration Day is like a live TV version of "Strange Stories of Vietnam". Isn't that cheap and ridiculous?

Putting aside the spiritual and cultural values, let's talk about the economic aspect. Until now, I still don't understand the purpose of making oversized offerings. It's not only costly in terms of time, effort, money, but also cumbersome and takes up space for the festival. The transportation, arrangement, and preservation are also difficult, but what is the benefit and for whom? To the viewer, a pair of giant banh chung is impressive, but in the end it's just a pair of banh chung. Sometimes it's not even as good as a pair of regular banh chung, because according to Mr. Pham Ba Khiem - Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Phu Tho, there was a year when he planned to cut the cakes for everyone to enjoy, the cakes were moldy, which was both wasteful and unhygienic. In short, it only solves the problem of prestige for the person offering them.

Of course, people may have a heart, a true heart, but the way they express it unintentionally becomes blasphemous and trivial. "A little money, a lot of heart", heart is not measured by material things, especially in spiritual and religious matters. But the common mentality of our people is to "use flesh to bully others", thinking that having a lot means having a heart, being respectful, without thinking that what touches the saints and ancestors the most is respect in thoughts and souls. Is it true that the shamans and shamans, who sell gods and saints, often exploit the mentality of worshippers who love a lot and love beauty to gain personal gain, distorting the precious traditional spiritual and religious activities of the nation?

Having little, using little, having much, using much, when the living conditions of our people are getting better and better, taking care of the soul, the spiritual life, and beliefs is becoming more and more elaborate and meticulous, which is understandable and also worthy of respect. Because that means we do not forget our roots. But how to do it reasonably, not wastefully, not ostentatiously, then it will not be counterproductive. I believe that the Hung Kings will not be offended because this year's pair of Chung cakes is a little smaller than last year's pair. I also believe that not having the flag and the giant hot air balloon (and in the time of the Hung Kings, who knew what a hot air balloon looked like?) does not make this year's Hung King's death anniversary ceremony lack any formality or ritual. "Without her, the market is still crowded, with her getting married, the market is still happy", cheers to the most reasonable decision of the organizing committee of the Hung King's death anniversary 2014!

Hai Trieu

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