Traditional festival of Bao Loc village, Phuc Loc commune, Hanoi city

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Introduction

Traditional festival of Bao Loc village, Phuc Loc commune, Hanoi city

The traditional festival of Bao Loc village is a cultural and folk-belief activity maintained and practiced for generations by the community of Bao Loc 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 hamlets, Phuc Loc commune, Hanoi city. The festival is held in the traditional cultural space of the village, mainly at the Bao Loc communal house and shrine, to remember and honor the merits of the Tutelary Gods who contributed to the people and the country, and to pray for national peace, good health, a peaceful life and prosperity for the people.

According to documents handed down by village elders, the Bao Loc village festival has existed since ancient times. During wartime, the festival was not held for a period. In 1980, the village festival was restored and has been maintained regularly to this day. Every year, the main festival is held for 03 days, from the 11th to the 13th day of the second lunar month, with the participation of a large number of villagers.

1. Worshipped figures and the meaning of the festival

Bao Loc communal house currently worships the three Tutelary Gods Bach Hac Dai Vuong. These are sacred figures associated with the history, belief life and traditions of the Bao Loc village community.

The relic site currently preserves many valuable Han-Nom documents, including 03 volumes of Han-character spirit records describing the backgrounds, talents and merits of the gods toward the people and the country; along with a system of edicts from feudal dynasties and a volume Bao village respectfully presents the above in Han characters. These documents help affirm the historical, cultural and belief depth of the relic site as well as the traditional festival of Bao Loc village.

The festival is an occasion for the people to show reverence and remember the merits of the village Tutelary God; at the same time, it educates generations about the tradition of 'when drinking water, remember its source', gratitude to predecessors, and awareness of preserving the good cultural values of the homeland.

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Story

012. Festival preparation work

Festival preparation is carried out carefully by the community before the festival day. On the occasion of the Full Moon of the first lunar month, villagers, the Elderly Association and other associations and organizations meet to discuss and agree on the content and time of the festival.

The festival Organizing Committee is selected, consisting of 21 members, including a Head and 02 Deputy Heads. After being established, the Committee assigns specific tasks to each member and prepares the necessary conditions for the ceremonial and festive parts.

Before the main festival day, many cultural, artistic and sports activities are held, such as health exercises by Elderly Association members, badminton exchanges and mass cultural performances, creating a joyful and enthusiastic atmosphere in the community.

023. Traditional rituals

A highlight of the Bao Loc festival is the system of traditional rituals preserved and practiced by the community over many generations, notably the bathing ritual, palanquin procession and offering ceremony.

On the 11th day of the second lunar month, village elders go to the shrine to perform the bathing ritual. The Chief Celebrant performs the ritual on behalf of the villagers according to traditional custom.

In the afternoon, a palanquin procession is held from the communal house to the shrine. Leading the procession is the literary palanquin carrying flowers and fruit, followed by the Long Dinh palanquin. At the shrine, the elders perform rituals according to tradition. After completing the rituals, the procession escorts the deity onto the palanquin and returns to the communal house to continue the festival activities.

At Bao Loc communal house, an offering ceremony takes place with the participation of a 13-member ritual team. The rites are performed solemnly and reverently, expressing the community's respect for the village Tutelary God.

The 12th day of the second lunar month is one of the festival days with many distinctive activities. An important ritual is the procession of the palanquin from Luc Xuan village to Bao Loc communal house, reflecting the brotherly bond between the two villages. After the two palanquins are carried in and placed side by side in the communal house yard, the two villages jointly perform a joint offering ceremony with the participation of two Chief Celebrants, two East Cantors and two West Cantors.

This ritual not only has religious meaning but also expresses the tradition of solidarity, attachment and mutual support among communities.

On the 13th day of the second lunar month, villagers continue to hold festival activities, perform the ritual of carrying the throne from the communal house to the shrine, after which the elders perform the closing offering ceremony, ending the traditional festival.

034. Cultural activities and folk games

Besides the solemn ceremonial part, the Bao Loc festival also has a rich festive part with many cultural, artistic and folk game activities. Traditional games organized include tug of war, wrestling, rice-cooking contest, duck catching, pot hitting, Chinese chess and a number of other cultural and artistic exchange activities. The games attract a large number of people, especially youths, creating a joyful and lively atmosphere during the festival days.

Through folk games, traditional skills, customs and forms of community activity continue to be practiced, while also creating conditions for younger generations to understand more about the homeland's culture and participate in preserving the heritage.

045. Traditional cultural values

During the festival organization, the Bao Loc village community still maintains many traditional customs, practices and rules of conduct.

Some taboos are handed down and observed by the community to ensure the solemnity of the festival. People in mourning do not take part in ritual roles during the village festival days. When the deity procession passes, people in mourning must avoid the procession according to village custom.

A custom known to many people is that when the deity is carried from the communal house to the shrine, children pass under the deity's palanquin hoping to receive blessings, good health, rapid growth and progress in study. On the procession route, the palanquin is covered according to traditional custom, showing solemnity and respect for the Tutelary God.

These rituals, customs and practices are passed down by elders to later generations orally and through direct guidance, thereby helping to maintain the festival's distinctive identity.

056. Space and objects used in the festival

The festival space is closely associated with the Bao Loc communal house and shrine relic system, creating a distinctive cultural and belief space of the village. During the festival, the community uses many traditional worship objects and items such as a Nguyen dynasty long throne, two Nguyen dynasty palanquin sets, the Long Dinh palanquin, a set of ceremonial weapons, flags, drums and gongs. Offerings include a black pig raised by a village family under community regulations, along with flowers, fruit, betel and areca, and votive paper.

Ritual costumes include offering costumes and spirit-medium shirts; music for the festival mainly uses drums and gongs, creating a solemn atmosphere in the ceremonial part and a lively one in the festive part.

067. Transmission and inheritance work

One of the important values of the Bao Loc Festival is its ability to maintain continuity between generations. Every year, the festival is held according to traditional custom, creating an environment for generations to participate together.

Elders regularly recount the history, origins, and merits of the deity worshipped at the relic site to their children and grandchildren. Middle-aged and young generations are mobilized to join the Organizing Committee, practice rituals, procession ceremonies, offerings, and folk games.

Transmission is mainly carried out through direct guidance, oral instruction, and “hands-on” teaching. Through this, young people have the opportunity to learn from elders and gradually grasp the rituals, customs, and necessary skills to continue organizing the festival in the future.

078. The value of the festival to the community

The traditional festival of Bao Loc village not only has religious value but also deep significance for history, culture, and community life.

The festival is an occasion for the people to remember and express gratitude for the merits of the Tutelary God; it is a place where the community practices traditional rituals together, meets, interacts, and shares joy during the first days of the year.

Through the festival, the spirit of community solidarity and neighborly bonds are strengthened; moral values, the tradition of “when drinking water, remember its source,” gratitude to predecessors, and a sense of responsibility toward the homeland are educated and passed down from generation to generation.

At the same time, the festival contributes to creating a healthy cultural environment at the grassroots level, enriching the spiritual life of the people, and helping to preserve and promote the traditional cultural identity of Bao Loc village in particular and Phuc Loc commune in general.

089. Preserving and promoting the value of the festival

In the coming time, the Bao Loc village community will continue to maintain the annual organization of the festival according to traditional custom; pay attention to preserving the rituals, customs, folk games, and distinctive cultural values of the festival.

Along with that, documenting the festival through notes, photographs, audio recordings, video recordings, and compiling records will help preserve materials for future generations. Encouraging youth to participate in organizing and practicing the festival is also an important solution to ensure long-term continuity.

The community hopes to continue receiving the attention and support of authorities at all levels in protecting, repairing, and embellishing the Bao Loc communal house and shrine relic site and the landscape of the relic area; at the same time, to strengthen communication and introduction of the festival’s values so that the people, especially the younger generation, better understand the cultural traditions of their homeland.

The traditional festival of Bao Loc village is an intangible cultural heritage preserved by the community over many generations. With a system of solemn rituals, distinctive customs, rich cultural activities and folk games, and the participation of a large number of people, the festival has become an indispensable part of the spiritual life of the Bao Loc community.

Maintaining and promoting the festival not only helps preserve the traditional cultural values of our ancestors but also contributes to building grassroots cultural life, strengthening community cohesion, and introducing the cultural beauty of Bao Loc village to the people and visitors.

Traditional festival of Bao Loc village, Phuc Loc commune, Hanoi city

Introduction

More Other places

Gioi Duc Pagoda (Hong An Temple)

Story

012. Festival preparation work

023. Traditional rituals

034. Cultural activities and folk games

045. Traditional cultural values

056. Space and objects used in the festival

067. Transmission and inheritance work

078. The value of the festival to the community

089. Preserving and promoting the value of the festival

Hai Giac Pagoda

Phuong Bang Pagoda (Hung Long)

Sung An Pagoda, also known as Sung Khang Pagoda (Dong Ba Pagoda)

Introduction

More Other places

Gioi Duc Pagoda (Hong An Temple)

Story

01|2. Festival preparation work

02|3. Traditional rituals

03|4. Cultural activities and folk games

04|5. Traditional cultural values

05|6. Space and objects used in the festival

06|7. Transmission and inheritance work

07|8. The value of the festival to the community

08|9. Preserving and promoting the value of the festival

Hai Giac Pagoda

Phuong Bang Pagoda (Hung Long)

Sung An Pagoda, also known as Sung Khang Pagoda (Dong Ba Pagoda)

012. Festival preparation work

023. Traditional rituals

034. Cultural activities and folk games

045. Traditional cultural values

056. Space and objects used in the festival

067. Transmission and inheritance work

078. The value of the festival to the community

089. Preserving and promoting the value of the festival