Fragrant lotus season!

• May 17, 2012 23:43

(Baonghean.vn) - Every May, in the minds of every Vietnamese person, no matter where they are, they turn to Kim Lien - the hometown of beloved President Ho Chi Minh; to express deep gratitude to Uncle Ho - the national liberation hero, world cultural celebrity. As a promise, on Uncle Ho's birthday, the Lotus Village Festival is held so that everyone can feel more clearly the fragrant lotus seasons in Uncle Ho's homeland.

Although the Sen Village Festival did not take place until the evening of May 17, from early morning on the 17th, Kim Lien was bustling with the cultural colors of the festival; in every hamlet, everyone was excited. In the hamlets of Ngoc Dinh, Mau Tai, Van Hoi, Dai Dong, there were bustling drum beats and colorful festival flags; the communal cultural house was noisy with cheers of the exciting volleyball matches between 16 strong teams from districts, cities, and towns in the province coming to join in the fun; in the stadium, the youth camp was also hastily set up; photo exhibitions about Uncle Ho's life, career, and ideology attracted a large number of viewers...

Cultural program in the Anniversary Ceremony

The art program recreated the image of young man Nguyen Tat Thanh leaving to find a way to save the country. Photo: Sy Minh

At Hoang Tru, Lang Sen, people from all over the country gathered to return in remembrance. Mr. Nguyen Dang Thuong, 62 years old this year, a resident of Uncle Ho's "second homeland" - Cao Bang, was very happy to visit Kim Lien for the first time during the Lang Sen festival. Mr. Thuong was moved to see that this year was only a provincial festival but it was organized solemnly and seriously, showing infinite gratitude to him. Mr. Thuong shared: I feel proud for my country, for my people to have Uncle Ho - a truly brilliant example for the whole nation to follow. And if we want Uncle Ho to live forever in our career, there is no other way than for the whole Party and the whole people to be imbued with Uncle Ho's thoughts and morality, determined to follow the path he chose. We must always live diligently, thriftily, honestly, and uprightly; no matter where we are, what we do, we must not forget that we are Vietnamese, descendants of beloved Uncle Ho.

As for Mrs. Tran Thu Thuy, a former teacher in Thai Nguyen province, her hands kept fondling the mementos as if she wanted to find somewhere the warmth of Uncle Ho. Mrs. Thuy confided: “I am very touched by Uncle Ho’s simple lifestyle. Hearing many stories about his life and career, seeing the mementos in his house, everyone was moved to tears. This festival, not only the opening night but also the following programs, I will fully attend.

Pilgrimage to Uncle Ho's hometown Lang Sen

Solemn procession of Uncle Ho's photo

Respectfully offering flowers and incense in memory of Him. Photo: SM

Mr. A Du, a son of the Ba Na ethnic group in Kon Tum province, visited Hoang Tru today and confided: Although he has never had the chance to welcome Uncle Ho to visit, for the ethnic groups in the Central Highlands, Uncle Ho, Bok Ho, and Giang Ho are always close and dear images. He is the light, the faith, the strength. That sentiment is like the sound of gongs and cymbals rejoicing in victory and celebrating a bountiful harvest that forever resounds in the majestic wilderness. In the flickering firelight under the roof of the Rong House and Long House every night, the ethnic groups in the Central Highlands often tell each other touching stories about Uncle Ho.

This year's Sen Village Festival has about 500 professional and non-professional actors from 20 urban districts and art centers and troupes in the province participating in performing unique cultural and artistic programs. The festival also has the participation of hundreds of athletes competing in sports tournaments. Mr. Vi Sat Son - Head of the Department of Culture and Information of Tuong Duong district, who has attended the festival many times, confided: Every time I attend the festival or come to offer incense and visit the Kim Lien relic site, I am more deeply imbued with what I have heard and learned about Uncle Ho's shining example... For this festival, Tuong Duong troupe has prepared many unique performances praising the Party, Uncle Ho, and the homeland. Tuong Duong is determined to learn and follow his words, contributing to helping the district escape poverty and develop.

At 8:00 p.m., a large number of people from Nam Dan district, Nghe An province and many tourists gathered at Lang Sen stadium - where the opening ceremony of Lang Sen festival 2012 took place. It was at this stadium that Uncle Ho spoke to his hometown people during his two visits to his hometown. The people of Kim Lien still remember his words that year: During his first visit to his hometown in 1957, Uncle Ho opened his talk with his hometown people with two verses as if drawn from his heart: "The homeland is full of great love and affection/ Those fifty years, how much love...". Uncle also advised: "Kim Lien cadres and people do well, Kim Lien builds a model commune, I will visit again...".

The second time Uncle Ho visited his hometown in 1961, he hoped that everyone would take responsibility for making the people rich and the country strong, and promoting the spirit of solidarity and mutual assistance. At the end of the talk, Uncle Ho led the song "Solidarity" for everyone to sing together... Honored to be one of the outstanding students of the district to carry Uncle Ho's portrait from the memorial house to the stadium, Dinh Van Hau, an 8th grade student at Kim Lien Secondary School, said: Having heard many stories about Uncle Ho, I see him as my grandfather. I will try to do well what Uncle Ho taught children, which is to try to study well, to help friends and live in harmony with everyone.

Delegations from districts and cities in the province participate in the 2012 Lotus Village Festival

Kim Lien these days is caressed by the sun, the fragrant lotus season - as warm and friendly as any other countryside. There are still the simple green bamboo fences, the houses stained with the color of time, the fields starting to harvest, the herds of buffaloes in the middle of the pond. There is a Kim Lien today that is accompanying the development of many other localities in the country amid the endless lotus seasons.

Meeting at the Sen Village Festival, Mr. Thai Van Nong, Chairman of Nam Dan District People's Committee confided: Before leaving, Uncle Ho wished that Kim Lien, Nam Dan, Nghe An must be the best commune, district, and province. Remembering and implementing his wishes, over the past years, the Party Committee and people of Nghe An in general, Nam Dan district and Kim Lien commune in particular have achieved many achievements in many fields.

After more than 1 year of implementing the National Target Program on New Rural Construction, 23/23 communes in the district have completed the planning for new rural construction and have been approved. With 136 billion VND invested in the new rural construction program (of which the people contributed 30 billion VND), roads, irrigation works, offices, schools, clinics and other welfare works of the commune have been and are being built, which will strongly change Uncle Ho's hometown, worthy of being President Ho Chi Minh's hometown, satisfying Uncle Ho's beloved desire for his hometown.