Trí Thủy Village Communal House Festival, Trí Thủy Hamlet, Xuân Mai Commune, Hanoi City.

Trí Thủy Communal House
is a relic ranked by the People's Committee of Hà Tây Province under Decision No. 1503/QĐUB dated
December 29, 2004. According to the “Thần phả” (deity genealogy) of Trí Thủy Hamlet, at the beginning of the Ất Sửu year (545), the
Liang army again invaded our country. Lý Nam Đế led troops into battle in the Lục Đầu River area
(Hải Hưng). But because his troops were few and could not stop the enemy, he had to retreat to Khuất Lão Cave,
Tam Nông, Vĩnh Phú, and died on the 20th day of the third month of the Mậu Thìn year (April 13, 548). Lý Thiên Bảo led
his troops in retreat to Thanh Hóa; after being attacked by Trần Bá Thiên, he retreated to the land of the Dị Lạo people
and died there. After Lý Thiên Bảo died in the Ất Hợi year (555), the villagers built a shrine
(later the Communal House). He had no children. Every year, the 6th day of the third lunar month is the day
of the village festival to commemorate his merits to the country and the people, including the people
of Trí Thủy Village today. Through the dynasties, the village communal house received edicts conferring the title of Superior
Deity from King Tự Đức, King Đồng Khánh, King Duy Tân, and King Khải Định.

During the
the resistance war against the French, the communal house and pagoda were completely destroyed, including the village, and the people were dis-
persed. The village communal house was built as it is today thanks to the efforts of the elders, of
the villagers, of visitors from everywhere, and the help of authorities at all levels. To record
remember the merits of the two brothers Lý Thiên Bảo and Lý Bí, the national hero who opened
the era of independence and self-governance of our country. Therefore, to this day the people of Trí Thủy Village still
worship Lý Thiên Bảo as the village's tutelary god in remembrance of his merits.

 * Taboos in the festival: chief celebrant: if
the family is in mourning for the four parents, one must wait until the mourning period ends before continuing to serve.  The person selected by the villagers to be Chief Celebrant must
have offerings of a tray of glutinous rice and a pig's head to present to the Saint. If resigning, one must also go and ask the Saint
for permission to step down. From the past until now, local leaders upon taking
office must also go to present themselves to the Saint. Offerings are usually simple and voluntary (an areca nut, a package
of cakes). If one no longer holds the position, one must also perform a ceremony to report to the Saint's house.

* Before the festival: The local government holds a joint meeting
including the Party Secretary, the Village Head, and the heads of departments
and mass organizations. After that, a festival steering committee is established and tasks are assigned to each
member of the steering committee. The meeting takes place at the village communal house or the cultural house
of the village.

* The 5th day of the third lunar month:

- Morning: The
elderly men in the village go to the communal house to perform the ceremony of cleaning the worship objects and assembling and washing the palanquins. The
elders wipe them with water three times, first with clean well water, then with ginger water
and then wipe again with alcohol. After that, the temple caretaker and some respected elders in the village dress the
village tutelary god. The elderly women go to sweep and clean the communal house.

- Afternoon:
the elderly men organize the yết offering ceremony at the communal house to report to the tutelary god that the following day
the festival will be held.

* The 6th day of the third lunar month: The festival is held in 1 day.

Palanquin procession.
The procession starts from the village communal house. Before setting off, the palanquin team must make
the octagonal palanquin turn three times in front of the communal house gate. Leading the procession is a flower palanquin carrying a portrait
of Uncle Ho, followed by the procession of the eight precious objects, and then the octagonal palanquin. The octagonal palanquin carries
palanquin, together with offerings of flowers and fruit. The procession consisted of 16 people, going from the village communal house to
Trí Thủy Pagoda, then walking around the village and carrying the palanquin back to the communal house. Everyone stayed
at the communal house to receive blessings and attend the feast.

* Afternoon of the 6th day of the third lunar month: The elders perform the closing ceremony and end the festival.