Ha Tinh: Opening Ceremony of Huong Tich Pagoda Festival

On the morning of January 5th (the 6th day of the Lunar New Year of the Horse), Ha Tinh province held the opening ceremony of Huong Tich Pagoda, marking the beginning of Ha Tinh Tourism Year 2014.

Wrestling is a new feature of this year's Huong Tich Pagoda Festival opening ceremony.

The Huong Tich Pagoda Festival 2014 took place from the 6th day of the first lunar month to the end of the second lunar month, featuring various sporting competitions such as traditional wrestling, tug-of-war, and cockfighting.

Every year during the Lunar New Year, tourists, monks, and Buddhists from all over the country make pilgrimages to visit and admire the scenic beauty of Huong Tich Pagoda – known as the "foremost scenic spot" on the Hong Mountain range. In just the first few days of the Year of the Horse, over 60,000 visitors came to offer incense and admire the scenery at Huong Tich Pagoda.

Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Ha Tinh province, Nguyen Thien, beat the drum to officially open the Huong Tich Pagoda festival.

Immediately following the ceremony and the spectacular artistic performance by the Hong Lam opera troupe, the traditional men's wrestling competition of the 2014 Provincial Sports Festival took place at the foot of Ngan Hong mountain, with the participation of more than 30 wrestlers from all districts, towns, and cities throughout the province.

Mr. Nguyen Van Giang, 81 years old, residing in Cua Nam ward, Vinh City (Nghe An province), said that every year, in the first days of the new year, he and his children and grandchildren attend the opening ceremony of Huong Tich Pagoda to enjoy the spring festivities. A new feature of this year's Huong Tich Pagoda opening ceremony is the exciting wrestling match.

Following the opening drumbeat, the wrestlers entered the competition with great enthusiasm and excitement, further enriching the colorful and attractive atmosphere of the Huong Tich Pagoda festival for visitors.

According to NDĐT