| Description |
The festival is held at Bản Phủ temple (Bản Phủ citadel) on February 24 to 28 every year to commemorate the merits of "Then Chất" (Hoàng Công Chất - Leader of the peasant uprising during the Lê - Trịnh dynasty) and Thái generals who were instrumental in suppressing the Phẻ enemy. The festival consists of two parts: the ceremony part and the festival part. The ceremony begins with a palanquin procession from the intersection of Noong Hẹt market to Bản Phủ temple. The procession is led by a Thái woman, followed by 16 young men symbolizing the insurgents in conical hats, brown shirts, yellow belts, neat swords and spears, and finally a palanquin carrying the sacred relics. At the Temple yard, 16 young men recreated the image of insurgents dancing with swords and spears to defeat the enemy, followed by a dragon dance, and then the ceremony of reading death anniversary wishes. The palanquin procession includes lion and dragon dance team (men), a gong and drum team (men), a parasol flag team (women), an offering team (women), a palanquin carrying team (women), and a sacrifice team (women world), government representatives and people. When the palanquin procession arrived at Hoàng Công Chất temple at Bản Phủ Citadel, the female priesthood team conducted incense offerings, and sacrifices, and read written wishes about the struggle against the Phe invaders led by General Hoàng Công Chất. The female priesthood team consists of 27 Thái and Kinh members. In particular, during the ceremony, there were 4 Thái women representing the indigenous people offering flowers and offerings. The festival includes many entertaining activities such as Xòe dancing, bamboo dancing, shuttlecock throwing, pipe coaxing dancing, stick pushing, sack dancing, tug of war, etc. |
