Hung Kings’ Death Anniversary - Hung Temple Festival 2012 will be held by Phu Tho provincial People’s Committee with the participation of several cities and provinces, including Dien Bien, Binh Duong, Nghe An, Da Nang and Hai Phong, from March 26th to 31st 2012 (the fifth to tenth days of the third lunar month) in Viet Tri City, Hung Temple Relic Complex and surrounding areas.

The festival will have various activities including incense offerings to commemorate Hung Kings (on the fifth day of the third lunar month); National Father Lac Long Quan's death anniversary and incense offerings to commemorate National Mother Au Co (on the sixth day of the third lunar month); the palanquin procession of communes in the Hung Temple Relic Complex with the attendance of the diplomatic corps, representatives of UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) in Viet Nam, Viet Nam National Commission for UNESCO (on the eighth day of the third lunar month); and the death anniversary of Hung Kings (on the tenth day of the third lunar month).

Besides, the other cultural activities of the festival will be held in association with the tourism programs of "Returning to the festival region, roots of Vietnamese people" and "Back to Roots" such as bronze drum beating, lion dance, Xoan Village Singing Festival; photo exhibition of "The Hung Kings’ worship relics and related to Hung Kings era in Viet Nam", contests of Banh Chung (square glutinous rice cake) wrapping and pounding (kind of rice-cake), camping festival...

In addition, many places of Xoan singing are set up in the Hung Temple Relic Complex and the original Xoan guilds to honor the cultural values of Hung Kings era as well as promote Xoan Singing of Phu Tho Province recognized as the Intangible Cultural Heritage in need of Urgent Protection by UNESCO.



During the Hung Temple Festival 2012, the Vietnam Institute of Culture and Arts Studies will coordinate with the Phu Tho Province to introduce and popularize the Hung Kings worship rituals through art performances, seminars and exhibitions, aims to continue completing the dossier on worship rituals dedicated to the Hung Kings to seek UNESCO’s recognition as a World Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

It is noted that there are over 1,400 places of worship dedicated to the Hung Kings across the country and numerous festivals to commemorate the nation’s founders are held every year. The festival at the Hung Temple Relic Complex in Phu Tho Province is the main and national official event dedicated to the Hung Kings.

The worship rituals dedicated to Hung Kings have existed through thousands of years, deeply taking root in the Vietnamese people’s mind and the annual festival to commemorate the Hung Kings (the main festival day falls on the 10th day of the third lunar month), has been recognized as a national event since 2007.

Compiled by Phuong Anh (TITC)