Dramatic ball-snatching scene at the Bach Ma Temple festival.
(Baonghean.vn) - Visiting the Bach Ma Temple festival in Vo Liet commune, Thanh Chuong district, tourists not only get to immerse themselves in the sacred festival atmosphere but also enjoy many attractive folk games, including the traditional wrestling game.
| Exciting ball-throwing games at the Bach Ma Temple festival. Clip: Huy Thu |
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| Wrestling is a unique folk game. Since the restoration of the Bach Ma Temple Festival, wrestling has become one of the main activities of the festival. The wrestling arena is set up by the organizers right below the temple grounds. Photo: Huy Thu |
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| Players in the traditional Vietnamese wrestling game are divided into two teams wearing belts of different colors. Before the match, the referee usually has the two teams draw lots to choose the arena. Photo: Huy Thu |
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| The ball is made from the trunk of a banana tree, carved, dried, and made pliable. Two teams will compete to get the ball into the opponent's goal. Photo: Nguyen's Book |
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| Six teams from villages with a tradition of wrestling in Thanh Chuong district (Thanh Khe, Thanh Thuy, Thanh Ha, Thanh Long, Vo Liet) participated in the traditional wrestling game at this year's Bach Ma Temple Festival. When the signal to play was given, the teams competed fiercely. Photo: Sach Nguyen |
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| Carrying a 5-7 kg ball while running across the sand, struggling to hold on, is no easy feat. Photo: Huy Thu |
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| Intense and dramatic clashes. Photo: Sach Nguyen. |
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| Sometimes, the ball is brought close to the opponent's goal but still cannot be pushed in. Photo: Huy Thu |
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| They both held onto the ball, neither willing to give way. Photo: Huy Thu |
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| The round ball, after a period of competition, had become misshapen. Everyone wanted to grab it, so they kept holding onto it. Photo: Huy Thu |
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| Even if you manage to snatch the ball from your opponent, it's still difficult to escape. Photo: Huy Thu |
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| In the past, people in Thanh Chuong used to play ball games on the sandy banks of the Lam River, with both water and dry-land ball games; nowadays, only dry-land ball games are played. Ball wrestling requires strength, agility, and a bit of cunning. Photo: Huy Thu |
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| The audience was also excited and enthusiastic, sharing in the players' range of emotions. Photo: Huy Thu |
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| It was difficult to get the ball into the opponent's goal. Photo: Huy Thu |
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| The joy of the wrestling athletes from Thanh Thuy commune after achieving a success. Photo: Huy Thu. |
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| Playing with spinning tops inevitably involves getting dirty with mud and sand. Photo: Nguyen's book. |
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| Many photographers also flocked to the wrestling arena to capture the "golden moment". Photo: Huy Thu |