Festival on the ancestral land - ancient copper
(Baonghean) During 3 days (February 28-29 and March 1), the 13th Lang Vac Festival in Nghia Hoa Commune, Thai Hoa Town took place solemnly and warmly with many exciting activities. A large number of people from Thai Hoa Town, neighboring districts and tourists from all over came to participate in the festival, expressing their respect for their ancestors and deep gratitude to those who contributed to opening the country.
According to the legend of the origin of the ancient Vietnamese people: One of the 50 children of the ancestors Lac Long Quan and Au Co came to settle in the ancient Vac Village, which is Nghia Hoa commune today. Compared with the relics and artifacts found in this land, this is a part of the Dong Son Culture with the Hung Kings in the early days of building the country - the ancient Vac Village and Thai Hoa today was an important mark in the process of expanding the land of our ancestors. In other words, Vac Village is the cradle of the Nghe people in the Ca River basin today and other lands...
During these days, the children of the ancient Phu Quy land and countless other Vietnamese children from all over the country have returned to the ancient Vac village - now Nghia Hoa commune, Thai Hoa town, wishing to personally light a fragrant incense stick for the altar of their ancestors, those who had the merit of opening the land, establishing the village, and opening the land since ancient times. Every year, Mr. Nguyen Van Tien, 85 years old, living in Dong Da district, Hanoi, is also guided by his children and grandchildren to the Vac Village Festival.
Bronze drum and bronze cauldron procession at Vac Village Festival
Mr. Tien confided: Coming to Lang Vac, I saw a part of the ancient life of my ancestors; and after Hung Temple in Phu Tho, this is the second sacred land of our Vietnam. The prosperous country today started from the creation of our ancestors, that origin each citizen must preserve and build.
At the procession of the bronze cauldron - symbolizing prosperity, bronze drum - symbolizing culture, civilization, from the leading officials of the province, Thai Hoa town to the children respectfully followed. The procession journey started from the festival grounds, a gentle hill with rubber forests in the budding season, through winding dirt roads, bridges and canals to the temple; only the echoes of the distant drums and the sounds of the flute signaling a happy day could be heard like thousands of years ago.
When the procession arrived at Lang Vac Temple, people had gathered and turned their hearts to the main worship hall. In front of the shrine, Mr. Vu Cong Hoi - Chairman of the Elderly Association of Nghia Hoa Commune, the celebrant of Lang Vac Temple, along with other elders, on behalf of the people of Thai Hoa Town as well as other Vietnamese people, offered offerings to express gratitude, remember the source of water when drinking, and remember the construction work of their ancestors; praying for favorable weather so that all people have good conditions for production, development, and material wealth, building family happiness and common prosperity. After the ceremony, the delegates attending the festival and the people together lit incense sticks on the altar of King Hung, the ancient gods of the Vietnamese people, the Arhat, the palace boys, the Cao Son Cao Cac, the princesses Thai Giang and Ngoc Dung.
At the newly built four sacred animals garden of Thai Hoa Town - including sacred animals such as dragons, phoenixes, and mediums for the gods, people gathered to look up and pray for peace and prosperity. In front of the open-air column - connecting the earth to the sky, a few children promised themselves to study well and be good; many others read the ancient steles and were proud of the traditions of their homeland, looking at hundreds of antiquities on display here discovered and donated by the people. These antiquities may have been recently discovered, but there are also antiquities that are treasures passed down from many families in the area; no matter how poor they are, they are determined not to sell them but only to offer them for the festival with the wish to be good, so that people can find their ancestors' roots.
In front of the festival grounds, art troupes from 10 wards, communes and agencies in the area danced and sang; the songs and dances praised the immense merits of King Hung and the wise kings Dinh, Ly, Tran, Le in building and defending the country; praising the Party and Uncle Ho. The opening speech by comrade Dinh Van Thi - Vice Chairman of Thai Hoa Town People's Committee, Head of the Festival Organizing Committee reviewed the sacred history of this ancient land and affirmed: The relics and sites of the bronze smelting area and burial sites in Vac village have a value greater than everyone's thoughts. Vac village culture is always the character and foundation of the people of Thai Hoa town and neighboring areas. Preserving the precious values of Vac village, the Party Committee and people of the town are determined to build Vac village into a national historical relic site; as well as constantly strive to build the town to become increasingly rich and strong, worthy of the merits of the ancestors.
Thanh Chung
