The Tien pagoda festival in Phu Nghia commune, Lac Thuy district will be held as a provincial-level event from February 12-14, said Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Van Toan.
Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Van Toan and local officials direct preparations for the Tien pagoda festival.
Toan, who is also head of the festival organising committee, said that the Tien (Fairy) pagoda festival is a cultural and folk belief activity that is restored and held annually to preserve, promote the traditional cultural values, and meet the spiritual needs of people. It also contributes to promoting the great solidarity among ethnic groups and boosting tourism of the district and Hoa Binh province.
Regarding the festival organisation this year, the provincial official said that an incense offering ceremony will take place on February 12 morning (the third day of the lunar year) and a ceremony on the afternoon of the same day with rituals asking local gods for permission to open the festival.
On February 13, the festival will officially start with palanquin processions: the procession of the Three Monsignors from Trinh Temple; the Procession of the Holy Mother's palanquin from the Thanh Mau Temple; the Procession of the palanquin of the god worshipped in the communal house from the Trung communal house. They are followed by the official festival opening ceremony with numerous activities such as musical performances, lion/ dragon dancing, stilt walking, bamboo dancing, and the Muong Gong ensemble.
Festive activities include folk games, and volleyball friendly matches among teams from districts of Yen Thuy, Kim Boi, Lac Son, Tan Lac and Lac Thuy.
Visitors can also enjoy a folk art exchange programme featuring ethnic musical instruments, Muong gong art performances, folk singing and demonstrations of the belief of worshipping the Mother Goddess of the Three Palaces by artisans from Trinh temple, Mau temple, and Tien pagoda.
Within the framework of the festival, a spring fair also takes place with over 40 booths that offer agricultural products, handicrafts, One Commune-One Product (OCOP) products, and local food.
As part of Project 6 under the national target program for socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas in 2024, Lạc Sơn District, Hoa Binh province focuses on diverse and practical activities to promote the project's goal: "Preserving and promoting the beautiful traditional cultural values of ethnic groups in conjunction with tourism development."
After 3 years of implementing Resolution No. 04-NQ/TU, dated October 11, 2021 of the Provincial Party Standing Committee on preserving and promoting the cultural heritage values of Hoa Binh province's ethnic groups in the period of 2021 – 2025 with the orientation to 2030 (NQ04), it has mobilized the participation of the entire political system, the people from all walks of life and there have been positive changes. So far, out of the 10 targets of NQ04, 3 targets have been met and exceeded the plan set for 2025. Typically, 70% of the intangible cultural heritage (ICH) of ethnic groups in the province is on the list of the national ICH items and they have been protected and restored, exceeding 20% of the proposed Resolution.
Great National Unity Day has been recently celebrated in Duong hamlet, Vay Nua commune, Da Bac district, in an atmosphere of warmth and community spirit. The event highlighted national identity and strengthened the bond of solidarity among residents.
On November 28, the People's Committee of Cao Phong district organized the Cultural and Sports Festival of Cao Phong district's ethnic groups in 2024.
