Hung Kings’ death anniversary commemorated nationwide

Chủ nhật - 14/04/2019 08:27 235 0

An incense offeringceremony was held in the northern midland province of Phu Tho on April 14 (orthe tenth day of the third lunar month) to commemorate the death anniversary ofHung Kings, the legendary founders of the nation.

At the incense offering ceremony - Photo: VNA

Attended the event were National Assembly Chairwoman NguyenThi Kim Ngan, officials from the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) CentralCommittee, and leaders of ministries, departments and localities, as well asVietnamese people at home and expatriates.

The death anniversary of Hung Kings has long been considereda significant day of the whole nation, illustrating the spirit of solidarityand tradition “when drinking water, remember its sources”.
The participants prayed for national peace, prosperity, andstrong development.

Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Bui Van Quanghighlighted the significance of the day as well as the remarkable achievementsthat the whole Party, army and people have gained in the cause of nationalreform, integration, and development.

After offering incense at Thuong Temple, NA Chairwoman Nganand delegates laid wreaths at Hung Kings tomb.

Phu Tho along with the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho, thecentral province of Nghe An, and the northern province of Son La representingdifferent regions across the country has actively carried out plans incelebration of the death anniversary of Hung Kings and Hung Kings TempleFestival in 2019.

Various kinds of activities have been taking place during theday such as palanquin processions, contests to make “Banh Chung” (squareglutinous rice cake) and “Banh Day” (white, flat, and round glutinous ricecake) – which were created by the 18th prince of Hung King some 3,000-4,000years ago – symbolysing the “earth” and the “sky”, respectively, and art andcultural programmes.

A ceremony offering incense and flowers to Hung Kings washeld the same day in Ho Chi Minh City with the presence of Politburo memberNguyen Thien Nhan, Secretary of the municipal Party’s Committee.

Legend has it that Lac Long Quan (real name Sung Lam, son ofKinh Duong Vuong and Than Long Nu) married Au Co (the fairy daughter of DeLai). Au Co then went on to give birth to a pouch filled with one hundred eggs,which soon hatched into a hundred sons, believed to be Vietnam’s ancestors.However, soon thereafter, Lac Long Quan and Au Co separated. Lac Long Quan wentto the coast with 50 of the children, while Au Co went to the highlands withthe rest.

Their eldest son was made king, who named the country VanLang and set up the capital in Phong Chau (nowadays Viet Tri city, Phu Thoprovince), beginning the 18 dynasties of the Hung Kings.
The kings chose Nghia Linh Mountain, the highest in theregion, to perform rituals devoted to rice and sun deities to pray for healthycrops.

To honour their great contributions, a complex of templesdedicated to them was built on Nghia Linh Mountain, and the tenth day of thethird lunar month serves as the national commemorative anniversary for the kings.

The worshipping rituals of the Hung Kings was recognised as aUNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2012.

Source: VNA