| Description |
The Trò Ngô Festival of Giàng Village is held every two years, on the 10th day of the first lunar month, to review the tradition of fighting foreign invaders, the merits of establishing villages, establishing villages, and protecting the people of the two Supreme Gods Thanh Lãng Cao Diệu Địch Cát and Mr. Vũ Lôi District Duke.
About a month before the festival, the people prepare for the organization, assign specific tasks to everyone and must complete them before January 9. Early in the morning of the 10th, the members of the troupe perform the vegetarian ceremony the day before and 8 male soldiers play the role of General Kim Cuong along with many people attend the festival with flags, gongs, drums, trumpets, and cymbals to Son Loc pagoda and Vu Loi District Duke's Temple to perform the ceremony and welcome the Saints to attend the festival.
The festival takes place with the rituals of carrying the throne and worshiping the gods. To perform the rituals, the village elects a regular Oan mandarin to be on duty next to the thrones at the Ban Điện to light incense, offer tea, wine, and flowers to the gods. The ceremony leader kneels to perform the ritual, on both sides are 8 sacrificial officials standing in two rows to perform the rituals of offering tea and wine. Sitting behind the sacrificial officials are the first Lenh, the second Lenh, the head of the Huong, and the second Ban of 12 clans. The people in the area and visitors from all over come to offer sacrifices, burn incense, and pray for a happy and lucky new year.
After the Ban Tế finishes the rituals, the people participate and enjoy the games, art performances, and unique folk performances such as: The Dậm dance - this is the first performance in the festival. The tribute performance - a performance depicting the scene of the Ngô Dynasty sending a delegation of envoys to the South to pay tribute to ask for peace. The performance of the Scholar - Farmer - Worker - Merchant. Thunder - lightning - rain performance to pray for "good rain, favorable wind and rain for the villagers to do farming and farming". Performance of wet rice farming. Performance of mulberry farming and silkworm raising. In addition to the performances, the community also organizes other folk games and performances such as swinging, Chèo singing.
On January 11, 24 flags of 12 clans are lowered. The handover ceremony between the old Cai đám and the new Cai đám takes place with the participation of the old Cai đám, new Cai đám, Lềnh cả, Hương trưởng, Bàn nhì of the 12 clans and the village elders at the festival's gate. After completing the handover, Lềnh cả, Lềnh hai, 24 Hương trưởng, Bàn nhì, monks, trumpet troupes, old and new Cai đám and the young men carry the thrones and trays of offerings from the festival's gate back to Son Loc pagoda and Vu Loi District Duke's Temple. The festival ends with a communal meal at Son Loc pagoda, any family that does not attend will also receive a share of the saint's blessings.
The Trò Ngô Festival of Giàng Village recreates the tradition of fighting against foreign invaders, the merit of establishing villages and hamlets, and protecting the lives of the people. The festival demonstrates folk knowledge related to praying for crops, demonstrating the strong relationship among clans, community cohesion, and contributing to educating generations towards the roots of the nation. With its typical value, the Trò Ngô Festival of Giàng Village was included in the List of National Intangible Cultural Heritage by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in 2017. |
