These festivals are a must-see when you set foot in Ha Nam

When arriving in Ha Nam, visitors will not only experience the beauty of nature and long-standing cultural heritage, but also have the opportunity to participate in unique festivals, which are typical cultural features of the region. this land. These festivals are not only an occasion to celebrate, but also an opportunity to explore and experience more deeply the culture and life of local people. Let's explore together special festivals that you cannot miss when coming to Ha Nam.
 

Ba Danh Pagoda Festival, also known as Bao Son Festival, is one of the oldest and famous traditional festivals in Ha Nam. Located in Danh village, Ngoc Son commune, Kim Bang district, the pagoda worships Phap Vu, the god who supports agricultural production and people's well-being. Initially, the pagoda was a small hut built with bamboo leaves next to the Day River, near the mountains and forests. The festival takes place every 5 years, attracting a large number of people to attend. The festival uses natural materials to help the statue's face become shiny white again. The villagers carefully organise the lightning ceremony. Before proceeding, they perform an ecstasy ceremony for the statue and process it to the lightning point. During this process, the curtain around the statue is removed to ensure sanctity. After each sunrise, the villagers organise a temple festival. The procession of Buddha's palanquin to the communal house on the full moon morning of February is the most exciting point of the festival. The dragon family palanquin takes the lead, carefully selected, followed by the ceremony prize palanquin and the jade lo palanquin. Finally, there is the hammock palanquin procession, all held from Ba Danh pagoda to Danh Xa Thuong communal house, then down to Danh Xa Ha communal house to continue the ceremony. With the solemn atmosphere of the sacred pagoda, people believe that children who are sick or have difficulty raising them, if they pass through the palanquin in the procession, will be blessed with health, intelligence and luck by the Buddha. . Therefore, children often crawl through the palanquins every time they pass by. The palanquin also moves gently so that everyone can perform this spiritual ritual. Every festival, palanquins are left at the Lower communal house or Upper communal house, so that people and visitors can pray for fortune and wealth, before being brought back to the pagoda on the morning of the 17th. During the festival, traditional rituals are held along with folk games such as tug of war, catching ducks in the water, and boat racing on the Day River. In 2011, after a 61-year hiatus, the festival was restored and received the attention of the whole community. This is not only a cultural event but also an attractive destination for tourists who want to explore local culture and spirituality.

Next, let's join the Long Doi Son pagoda festival in Ha Nam. Doi Son Pagoda, located on the top of Long Doi mountain in Duy Tien district, 8 km from Phu Ly. Built under the reign of King Ly Nhan Tong, the pagoda has existed for nearly 1,000 years with typical architecture of the Ly Dynasty. Currently, the pagoda still retains many precious relics such as the bronze Maitreya Buddha statue and Dien Linh stone stele. This work was destroyed by the Ming army, but the Sung Thien Dien Linh stele and 6 Diamond statues are still intact. Recognized as a national monument since 1992 and a special national monument since 2017. Long Doi Son Pagoda Festival takes place every year in the third lunar month, and is an indispensable part of religious culture. in Doi Son commune and Duy Tien district. In addition to commemorating the Venerable Thich Chieu Thuong, who had great contributions in building and developing the pagoda, the festival is also an opportunity to commemorate those who have contributed to building the country and the pagoda. With many cultural activities and spiritual rituals, the festival not only meets religious needs but is also an opportunity for tourists and the community to participate and explore the cultural beauty and value of monuments and religions.
 
And finally, the Gua village festival is located at Dinh Gua, Liem Thuan commune, Thanh Liem, formerly Gua village, An Cu commune, built to worship three generals and Mr. Truong Viet Nguyen, general of the Dinh dynasty, to commemorate and Honor those who have contributed to the country. This location is also the burial place of Mr. Truong Viet Nguyen, a generous figure in the nation's history.

The traditional wrestling festival at Gua communal house, also known as the bridge mallet, takes place on the 4th day of the Lunar New Year, and is one of the unique features of Gua Song village and Ha Nam province. The wrestling festival was organised to commemorate Mr. Truong Viet Nguyen and those who had great contributions to the country. Every year on the 4th day of the Lunar New Year, Gua village holds a traditional wrestling festival. In the morning, the village's sacrificial team performs a sacrifice at the communal house, then the villagers participate in the holy ceremony and receive holy blessings. In the afternoon, after honouring the history and merits of the village's tutelary gods, two elders were chosen to carry the ball to the front porch of the communal house. After the disputed bridge ride, the ball is brought into the pavilion and the wrestlers participate in the competition arena. This organisation not only honours tradition but also commemorates Mr. Truong Viet Nguyen's agility and health since childhood. During the festival, villagers perform respectful rituals at the communal house and participate in Bridge riding, a tradition to find luck and peace for the whole village. This is also an opportunity to reunite, exchange and show solidarity in the community, with cultural and sports activities taking place throughout the festival. Although it does not coincide with the village festival (usually taking place from the 6th to the 8th day of Tet), the wrestling festival at Gua communal house always attracts the attention of the whole village and surrounding areas. In addition to croquet and martial arts competitions, the village also organises soccer and volleyball matches at the cultural yard. In the evening, there was a cultural exchange combined with giving gifts of encouragement to young people in the village who were about to join the army.

Under long-standing traditional rituals, under cheers and folk festivals, impressive festivals in Ha Nam will evoke unforgettable emotions in visitors. The colourful and unique experiences at these festivals are not only a journey to discover local culture but also an opportunity to enjoy the joy and cohesion of the community. Let the wonderful moments at these special festivals be an indelible mark on your journey to discover Ha Nam!
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