Lotus Festival
(baonghean.vn) - I have been through lotus seasons in many parts of the country, but the lotus season with its immense fragrance and the starry night sky in May in Uncle Ho's homeland left me with many emotions. The 2014 Lotus Village Festival - a festival in the middle of the lotus season has awakened the sacred space in everyone's mind.
Rarely has any festival received the enthusiastic participation of the masses like the Sen village festival held in Uncle Ho's hometown. There is still an atmosphere of excitement and anticipation from thousands of people, respectfully looking forward to the festival as an occasion to pay tribute to the beloved leader of the Vietnamese people. This year, the festival has many innovations compared to previous years, the activities of the festival serve the cultural and entertainment needs of the masses, receiving enthusiastic response. From early morning, groups of union members and young people in green shirts joined hands to set up beautiful welcoming camps, with many unique activities, creating an attractive playground, attracting the attention of many people.
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| Procession of Uncle Ho's photo at the festival. |
The most impressive are the photos of Uncle Ho in different historical periods, enlarged and exhibited, evoking emotions in the hearts of the participants. The most special is the kite flying festival on the dike along the poetic Lam Giang river. The sunset gradually falls, the kites still flutter in the wind, the kite flute sounds gently and gently, as if recreating the peaceful childhood of the boy Nguyen Sinh Cung.
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| Delegates offer incense, flowers, and report to Uncle Ho at the 2014 Lotus Village Festival. |
It can be said that the people's participation in the festival activities contributed to the success of tonight's festival. A few hours before the opening ceremony, the restlessness and anticipation were clearly visible on the faces of the festival attendees. Coming from Truong Thi ward, Vinh city, Ms. Vo Thi Hong Sam, her husband, children and grandchildren came to Sen village very early. She couldn't remember how many times she had visited Uncle Ho's hometown during the historic May days, but today, the sacred emotions about President Ho Chi Minh were still intact in her confession: "Thinking about Uncle Ho, I feel peaceful and proud to be a citizen of Nghe An, of Vietnam. Visiting Uncle Ho's hometown and waiting to attend the Sen village festival for me and my family is a great happiness!"
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| 124 excellent students carried 124 portraits of Uncle Ho from Kim Lien Relic Site to Lang Sen Stadium. |
The moment thousands of people have been waiting for has come when the parade of mass art troupes arrived at the Kim Lien relic site after the flower and incense offering ceremony from Ho Chi Minh Square (Vinh City). Leading the delegation, provincial leaders, provincial departments, agencies, leaders of Nam Dan district and representatives of the people respectfully offered flowers and incense to his spirit.
Amidst the majestic music, the ceremony continued with a long procession of photos, with 124 excellent students of Nam Dan district, carrying 124 portraits of Uncle Ho, symbolizing 124 lotus blooming seasons. Nguyen Thi My Tien, a 9th grade student of Kim Lien Secondary School confidently shared: “This is the fourth year I have participated in the honorary team of Nam Dan district students. I feel honored and proud to be a member of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union, a child of Uncle Ho's homeland. I vow to strive and train to be worthy of all those sacred things.”
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| Delegates attending the opening ceremony. |
After many years of organization, the influence of Sen village festival has become stronger and stronger, becoming an indispensable highlight in every occasion of celebrating President Ho Chi Minh's birthday on May 19 every year. Deeply aware of the value of this activity so that Sen village festival is truly a festival with strong humanity and mass character, and at the same time becomes the brand of Nghe An tourism, many activities have been organized in localities across the province. These are the mass art festival Sen village singing from commune, district and provincial levels, cultural and artistic activities, sports, kite flying contest, swinging; Film screening on the topic of Uncle Ho; Photo exhibition on the topic of the Party, Uncle Ho, Uncle Ho's feelings for the homeland; Youth camp following Uncle Ho's words.
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| Comrade Dinh Thi Le Thanh beats the drum to open the festival. |
In particular, this year, the theme of sea and islands is cleverly integrated into the festival activities. Many youth camp areas are decorated with a combination of Uncle Ho's theme and the theme of sea and islands, affirming the sacred and inviolable sovereignty of the homeland's sea and islands.
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| Mr. Thai Van Nong, Chairman of Nam Dan District People's Committee read the opening speech. |
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| Scene of Uncle Ho visiting his hometown Nghe An. |
On the night of May 17, 2014, right after the opening drum beat by comrade Dinh Thi Le Thanh - Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, the entire Lang Sen Stadium area was immersed in a festival atmosphere with performances praising the glorious Party, the great Uncle Ho, and the changes of the homeland.
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| Performances at the gala |
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| Locals and tourists attend the Lotus Village Festival. |
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| The youth camp following Uncle Ho's teachings cleverly incorporated the theme of sea and islands. |
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| People learn about Uncle Ho's life and career at the photo exhibition. |
Video clip of Lotus Village Festival 2014:
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Sen Village Festival - the festival in the middle of lotus season once again affirms the value and shines the great personality of Ho Chi Minh, becoming a highlight in the panoramic picture of culture and tourism of Nghe An.
Phuong Chi - Nguyen Khoa
