Procession of Va temple to Ngu Doi temple for Moc Duc ritual ON MID-LUNAR JANUARY in 2014 _Va Temple Festival

Presenting wine bottle to the altar of the Three Figures in the back alter for THE FISHING RITUAL IN MID-SEPTEMBER _Va Temple Festival

The convoy of gifts from Vân Gia communal house to the Và temple for THE FISHING RITUAL IN MID-SEPTEMBER _Va Temple Festival

Seated Tugging is practiced in the village festival of Thach Ban Ward, Long Bien District, Hanoi city.\nThis village is situated on the land along the Red River dike. The people live mainly on farming and rice cultivation, so water is extremely important. The legend of Seated Tugging is rooted in the desire for sufficient water for life and production. Thus, the saints that people worship are all related to water. Seated Tugging expresses the desire for good weather and good harvest.\nSeated Tugging is done on the ground. A rattan rope is threaded through ironwood pillars fixed to the ground. The tugging game is played by two teams (nineteen people per team) sitting on the ground. One leg is bent, the other is straight, and the heels provide the leverage to pull. The teams also have to prepare gifts of sticky rice and a pig head covered with fat to offer to the saints. Seated Tugging is a ritual and a game, played in three-round matches at the Tran Vu temple festival. There is always a winning team. According to the compact of the community, it symbolizes luck and flourishing for the year. These compacts, concepts, and conditions for participation for Seated Tugging are prescribed\nby the community and maintained from generation to generation. The value of the ritual and game has a spiritual character and also expresses cultural creativity. It is the conversion of beliefs or desires into a cultural expression of offerings, rituals, and performances, which is reflected in the behavior between the two teams, as well as between the game participators, flag keeper, and drum player. All communities participate in the ritual and game voluntarily, fairly, and without rivalry.

Vietnam_Picture_Tugging Rituals and Games:Anh Keo co ngoi

Taking water from the river for Mộc Dục ritual (statutes cleaning ritual) ON MID-LUNAR JANUARY _Va Temple Festival

Water procession of Ngự Dội temple for CEREMONY OF MỘC DỤC (STATUTES CLEANING) ON MID-LUNAR JANUARY (Di Bình village, nVĩnh Ninh commune, Vĩnh Tường district, Vĩnh Phúc province) at Kỳ phúc ceremony in 2015n_Va Temple Festival

Gifts of Phu Sa village Festival for THE FISHING RITUAL IN MID-SEPTEMBER _Va Temple Festival

Grilling fishes for THE FISHING RITUAL IN MID-SEPTEMBER _Va Temple Festival

Seated Tugging is practiced in the village festival of Thach Ban Ward, Long Bien District, Hanoi city.\nThis village is situated on the land along the Red River dike. The people live mainly on farming and rice cultivation, so water is extremely important. The legend of Seated Tugging is rooted in the desire for sufficient water for life and production. Thus, the saints that people worship are all related to water. Seated Tugging expresses the desire for good weather and good harvest.\nSeated Tugging is done on the ground. A rattan rope is threaded through ironwood pillars fixed to the ground. The tugging game is played by two teams (nineteen people per team) sitting on the ground. One leg is bent, the other is straight, and the heels provide the leverage to pull. The teams also have to prepare gifts of sticky rice and a pig head covered with fat to offer to the saints. Seated Tugging is a ritual and a game, played in three-round matches at the Tran Vu temple festival. There is always a winning team. According to the compact of the community, it symbolizes luck and flourishing for the year. These compacts, concepts, and conditions for participation for Seated Tugging are prescribed\nby the community and maintained from generation to generation. The value of the ritual and game has a spiritual character and also expresses cultural creativity. It is the conversion of beliefs or desires into a cultural expression of offerings, rituals, and performances, which is reflected in the behavior between the two teams, as well as between the game participators, flag keeper, and drum player. All communities participate in the ritual and game voluntarily, fairly, and without rivalry.

Vietnam_Picture_Tugging Rituals and Games:Anh Keo co ngoi

Độ Hà ceremony for MỘC DỤC (STATUTES CLEANING) ON MID-LUNAR JANUARY - the elderly practice the ritual of asking for permission to take water from the river in the Red river bank _Va Temple Festival