Phap Van Pagoda, Van Giap village, Thuong Tin commune, Hanoi city

According to historical documents and folk oral tradition, Phap Van Pagoda was formed during the Ly dynasty, in the third year of Thai Minh, i.e. the Giap Dan year 1074, under the reign of King Ly Nhan Tong. Along with the formation and development of the pagoda, the traditional village festival was also born and has been maintained continuously to this day, demonstrating the close bond between the relic and community life.

Phap Van Pagoda belongs to the Tu Phap worship system, including Phap Van, Phap Vu, Phap Loi and Phap Dien, a typical folk belief of agricultural residents in the Northern Delta. The Tu Phap belief reflects the aspiration for favorable rain and wind, good crops, and a warm and happy life. With outstanding historical, cultural and religious values, Phap Van Pagoda was ranked by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism as a National-level Historical-Cultural Relic in 1991.

The traditional village festival of Phap Van Pagoda is held annually on the 8th day of the 4th lunar month and is one of the typical festivals of the locality. The festival takes place over many days, with two main parts: the Ceremony and the Procession, organized according to traditional rituals and preserving many ancient elements.

The Ceremony is conducted solemnly and strictly. On the 7th day of the 4th lunar month, the village organizes the sutra-inviting and water-procession ritual, also called the cap thuy ceremony. Sacred water is carried to the pagoda to perform the Ngu Phuoc ceremony and the Moc Duc ceremony - the ritual of bathing the Saint, expressing reverence and purification of spiritual energy. Then comes the consecration and enthronement ceremony performed by the pagoda together with monks, nuns and Buddhists. On this day, village leaders, elders, young men and women, villagers and a large number of visitors join the procession in a solemn and devout atmosphere.

The ritual implements serving the festival are fully prepared, including altars, bat buu, wine bottles for the ceremony and many traditional worship objects. The procession includes a dragon and a dragon procession team, along with palanquins such as the bat cong palanquin, oan palanquin, water palanquin, five-element flags, four sacred creatures flags, bat buu, wooden swords, parasols and canopies, creating a sacred festival space rich in symbolism and aesthetics.

The 8th day of the 4th lunar month is the main festival day. On this day, people from lanes and hamlets in the village, together with visitors, make offerings at the pagoda. In the afternoon, the people of Van Hoi village come to make offerings to the Saint, demonstrating the close cultural-religious exchange relationship between villages in the area.

On the 9th day of the 4th lunar month, in the morning, the village organizes a procession of offerings to Van Hoi village pagoda for exchange of Saint worship. In the afternoon, the Te Ta ceremony is performed, a farewell ceremony, ending the festival in a solemn and devout atmosphere.

The Procession is an important part, clearly expressing the traditional cultural identity of the festival. On the 7th day of the 4th lunar month, the village organizes a palanquin procession from Dinh Thuong to receive water and receive the bao - ky kieu. In the afternoon, the palanquin, bao and water procession goes from Dinh Thuong to Phap Van Pagoda to perform traditional rituals. Participants in the procession include village leaders, elders, young men and women, villagers and a large number of visitors.

Over time, Phap Van Pagoda and the traditional village festival of Van Giap village are not only a place for religious activities, but also a space for preserving and promoting traditional cultural values, contributing to educating the moral principle of 'when drinking water, remember its source', strengthening community solidarity and preserving national cultural identity.