Ho Family Festival and the 610th anniversary of the construction of the Ho Family Ancestor Temple in Vietnam

(Baonghean.vn) -On February 19 and 20 (January 10 and 11, 2013), at Ngoc Son commune - Quynh Luu district, the Ho Family Liaison Committee of Vietnam, the Management and Restoration Board of King Ho Temple, the Ho Family Liaison Committee of Nghe An province and Quynh Luu district held a ceremony to celebrate the 610th anniversary of Emperor Ho Quy Ly building the temple to worship the founder of the Ho Family in Vietnam and held the annual traditional festival at the King Ho Temple.

Attending the ceremony were representatives of Military Region 4, Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Department of Information and Communications, provincial and district departments of Quynh Luu, and many descendants of the Ho clan from all provinces across the country.

Ho family ancestor worship ceremony in early spring of Quy Ty year 2013

The Ho Dynasty Ancestor Temple of Vietnam (commonly known as King Ho Temple) was built by Emperor Ho Quy Ly in Bao Dot village, Ngoc Son commune, Quynh Luu district in 1403, to pay tribute to the ancestors who gave birth to the Ho Dynasty of Vietnam, who founded and established the land of Ngoc Son today.

In 2001, the Ho Family Liaison Committee of Vietnam and the Ho Family's descendants nationwide unanimously decided to contribute their efforts to rebuild the Ho King Temple on an area approved by the province for planning of more than 150 hectares, with a built area of ​​2.6 hectares. Currently, the project has restored the rear palace, the main hall, the shrine, the grounds, and the grand ceremony yard, with a total cost of nearly 20 billion VND out of the total project of more than 50 billion VND. The entire restoration cost was donated by the descendants of the Ho family.

Before the celebration, yesterday, February 19, the festival activities took place enthusiastically, including the proclamation ceremony, the prayer ceremony performed by monks from Ho Chi Minh City, cultural and artistic exchanges between the three regions of the North - Central - South including performances, singing, dancing, music, drum dance, bamboo dance performed by descendants of the Ho family from groups from Bac Ninh, Bac Giang, Ho Chi Minh City, Ben Tre, Hue, Da Nang, Quang Ninh, Hai Phong, Thanh Hoa, Ha Tinh..., creating a vibrant, warm and affectionate atmosphere in the first days of the new spring.

An art performance in the exchange session of Bac Ninh delegation

Continuing the celebration program, this morning, February 20, a grand ceremony took place according to traditional customs. The ceremony celebrated the 610th anniversary of the construction of the Ho King Temple, reviewing the glorious history of the nation, of the family that gave birth to many talented people who contributed to the country, such as Emperor Ho Quy Ly, Ho Thom (Emperor Quang Trung Nguyen Hue) and the Ho Chi Minh era, which had many outstanding scientists and artists, contributing to the country's development.

Drum performance to open the festival



Delegates attending the ceremony



The monks held a mass for the dead.



Many descendants of Ho family came to offer incense.



Casting bronze drums at King Ho temple



Awarding certificates to those who contributed to buy bronze drums

After the cultural and artistic part, there was the casting ceremony of 100 bronze drums, the bronze drum procession, the offering ceremony and the meritorious service to build the temple of King Ho.

News and photos: Sy Minh