Charm seekers faint at chaotic Tran Temple fest

Photo: Tuoi Tre

A not so charming scene occurred yesterday evening at the Tran Temple Festival held in the northern province of Nam Dinh when dozens fainted after jostling and elbowing one another to lay their hands on a lucky talisman being sold there.

Traditionally thought to bring good luck, the yellow charms are officially priced at VND20,000 (US$1) each but since many could not reach the sale points, the amulets were sold 10 times more expensive by scalpers.

Charms were in so high a demand that the festival’s management board sent more employees to sell them but still could not meet pilgrims’ needs.

Although the festival officially opened at 11:00 pm yesterday, nearby roads were flooded much earlier.

From 20:00 pm, police set up barriers to prevent tourists from elbowing one another to reach the amulets but this proved fruitless.

Some extremists shouted and climbed over the barriers.

The packed, frenzied atmosphere caused dozens to faint, mostly elderly people and women.

The Tran Temple Festival is held annually on the death anniversary of General Tran Hung Dao, falling on 15th day of the first lunar month.

It takes place at the historical site of the Tran Dynasty at the outskirts of Nam Dinh.

The festival features solemn rituals, such as palanquin procession, and traditional cultural activities.

Related Articles

• Residents compete in legendery Ha Noi rice cooking festival
• Writers’ temple to display bronze drums
• Vietnam poetry festival highlights Uncle Ho
• ASEAN role sought to resolve temple conflict
• Northern natural beauty, traditions call out to adventurous travellers

January, a month of festivals and feasts

Vietnam celebrates more than 9,000 local and national festivals that can be categorized as folk, historical-revolutionary, religious, foreign-origin, and cultural-sport-tourist.

They mostly have their origins in the north, according to cultural scholars.

The first lunar month is a “month of festivals and feasts,” according to an old saying.

The New Year marks the arrival of spring according to the Chinese and Vietnamese calendars, and people are eager to visit historical sites and temples and pagodas, go sightseeing, and participate in festivals.

Many of the festivals are aimed at invoking patriotism and solidarity among people and act as platforms to preserve and pass down the nation’s culture to future generations.

Some commemorate national heroes. The Dong Da festival in the north, for instance, pays homage to King Quang Trung’s glorious feat of arms against 29,000 Qing invaders from China in 1789.

Festivals in the 1st lunar month - Saint Giong Festival in Phu Linh Commune, Hanoi, 6th to 8th. - Tich Dien Festival on Doi mountain, the northern Ha Nam Province, 5–7. - Huong Pagoda Festival, Hanoi, starts on the 6th and goes on for three months. - Gia La night-festival in Duong Noi Commune, Hanoi, 6-14. - Sai Temple Festival in Thuy Lam Commune, Hanoi, 12. - Tu Xa Festival in Tu Xa Commune, Lam Thao District, Phu Tho Province, 11 and 12. - Lim Festival in Lim town, Bac Ninh Province, 13. - Co Loa Festival in Dong Anh District, Hanoi, 6-15. - Ba Chua Kho (Queen Kho) Temple Festival in Co Me village, Bac Ninh, 14. - Va Temple Festival in Trung Hung Commune, Hanoi, 15. - Tam Thanh pagoda festival in the northern city of Lang Son, 15. - Long Tong Festival in Cao Bang Province on the China border, 6-15. - Vieng Market Festival in Kim Thai Commune, Vu Ban District, Nam Dinh, 8

Dong Da Fest

Co Loa Fest

Many of the festivals feature traditional sporting events -- like crossbow shooting and wrestling at the Co Loa Festival in Hanoi’s Dong Anh District, fighting, wrestling, and running at the Vi Khe Flower Festival in Nam Dinh Province and the Buffalo Stabbing Festival in Mo Hra village in the Central Highlands.

Buffalo Stabbing Fest

They also showcase traditions like singing love duets, weaving fabric, and many others.

In the south, most festivals are meant to worship ancestors and deities and seek their protection and blessings for prosperity. Like the festival on Ba Den Mountain in Tay Ninh province during spring which people attend to pray for a year of prosperity and success.

Ba Den pagoda

The southern celebrations also often feature ornamental flowers and trees grown by traditional trade villages.

Ethnic peoples usually have spectacular festivals -- like the Tay and Nung’s Long Tong and the Hmong’s Sac Bua in the northwestern region and the Kho Me’s Lunar New Year celebrations in the south.

Long Tong Fest

Related Articles

• Lunar January is festival month
• Keep festivals healthy, says PM
• Complaints lead to water review
• HCMC to relay grand sale program to November
• Knitwear firm seeks Gov’t intervention over stalled project