A ceremony to plant Neu pole (a tall bamboo tree with red garment strips used to ward off evil spirits during Tet) was organised at Hue Imperial Citadel in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue on February 8.
Neu pole
erected at Hue Imperial Citadel - Illustrative image (Source: VNA)
The 15-metre bamboo pole was carried by a group of men dressed as soldiers
under the Nguyen Dynasty in a procession from the Hien Nhon Gate through the
Thai Hoa Palace to arrive at the Ancestral Temple, where it was erected.
The erection of the Neu pole on the 23rd day of the 12th lunar month marks the
beginning of Tet. It coincides with the day when the Kitchen Gods are believed
to ride carp fish to the Heaven to report on events from the past year.
During 143 years of reign (1802 – 1945), the Nguyen Dynasty held an annual
ceremony to plant the Neu pole at the Imperial Citadel. The pole carries ritual
items on its top, like a royal seal, a paper scroll and pen, which imply that
the royal court stopped working during Tet.
The Neu pole is also believed to ward off ghosts and demons from entering the
community during Tet. It would also direct ancestors seeking the path home for
the Lunar New Year holiday. The custom is also practised in some Asian
countries besides Vietnam.
It will be taken down on the seventh day of the first lunar month to mark the
end of the Tet celebration.
Also on the day, the Hue Relics Preservation Centre held a Tet programme, which
offers visitors a chance to listen to nha nhac (Hue royal court music), folk
games, and watch a competition to make Chung cake (a cake made from glutinous
rice traditionally dedicated to Tet).
Source: VNA
Hanoians will soon get a chance to experience ethnic Mong people’s traditional New Year dances and games.
The programme Xyoo Tshiab Nram Nroog (The Mong’s New Year Celebrated in the City) will take place on January 13 at the Hanoi University of Culture.
(HBO) – The provincial Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union and Department of Education and Training of Hoa Binh have co-organised the 2019 Hoa Binh Student Singing Festival. The event gathered more than 500 students and teachers from 35 boarding secondary schools, high schools and colleges across the province.
The northern province of Phu Tho will launch a short film in Vietnamese and English to introduce and popularise the Hung King Temple and traditional Vietnamese beliefs.
(HBO) – In the cultural heritage of Vietnamese people, the culture of Muong ethnic group is imprinted in various fields.
(HBO) - Every year, the province’s photographers have brought their art works to the photo contest of 15 northern mountainous provinces.
Since 1998, as many as 1,800 works by local photographers have been sent to the contest. The works mainly feature the culture, customs, practices and landscapes of the Muong land.
For photo contests in the province, local artists often participate irregularly, because there are few photo contest in the locality. From 1998 to 2018, only six contests were organized. However, the contests gathered many high-quality photos.
(HBO) The promotion and development of mass cultural movements at the grassroots level has created a healthy entertainment playground among the people, contributing to preserving and promoting the national cultural identity.
