Đình Bảng Village Festival

Opening: 27 Mar
Dates: 27 – 31 Mar 2010
Đình Bảng Village, Từ Sơn Town
Hwy. 1 east 1/2 way toward Bắc Ninh, bus #6

One of the largest communal houses (đình), dragon dancing, wrestling, releasing doves, and the day-long welcoming of the village elders from the neighboring village of Cẩm Giang are just the highlights of Đình Bảng Villages celebration of the gods of Mountain, River, Earth, and six others believed to have rebuilt this village in the 15th century.

Đình Bảng Village in Từ Sơn Town is well-known for its communal house, one of the largest in Vietnam. It was built in the 18th century to worship the gods of Mountain, River, and Earth, along with six other deities who were believed to have rebuilt the village during the 15th century. Villagers continue to honor the locals gods.

The festival begins with the beating of drums on the morning of the twelfth day of the second lunar month. Villagers gather to begin a series of rituals that last for the next five days. One of the most important rituals takes a whole day to perform – it involves villagers welcoming elders from Cẩm Giang Village to attend the festival according to the traditional kết chạ, making friends among villages, ritual.

Traditional games include cockfighting, classical drama performances, the symbolic release of doves, and wrestling which usually proves to be one of the most popular events during the festival.

Source: OUTLOOK, February 2010