VIETNAM FESTIVAL AND EVENTS
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The festivals and
events are calendared in Lunar month. Normally, a lunar month stay
later than western month of around 30 days.
OCTOBER
KEO PAGODA FESTIVAL
Keo Pagoda is located in Vu Nhat commune, Thaibinh province. This
great pagoda was built as early as 17th century in honour of a
monk whose name has been recorded in books: Duong Khong Lo. This
man was originally a fisherman, then entered religion and attained
Nirvana. He knew magic and once came to the capital to cure King
Ly Thanh Tong so he was honored as the teacher of princes. He had
Nghiem Quang Pagoda built and later renamed it Thanh Quang (Keo
Pagoda).
The Keo Pagoda festival is annually held for three days, from 13th
to 15th of the 9th lunar month to worship Buddhist Duong Khong Lo.
He died on the 3rd of the sixth month, the festival of
Keo Pagoda
starts on the 13 of the 9th month, 100 days after his death. The
14th of the 9th lunar month is his birthday. The festival lasts
one more day, through the 15th because it is the day in the middle
of the lunar month, usually marked by Buddhists.
On the 13th, the festival begins with a procession to remind
people of the anniversary of Buddhist Duong Khong Lo. Then a boat
race and a competition of literary recitation are held in the
afternoon. When the night falls, it is time for a trumpet and drum
competition.
On the morning of the 14th, Khong Lo's birthday is celebrated. It
is followed by a procession including a red and white horse
pulling a carriage. The carriage is accompanied by eight flag
bearers and 42 men carrying bat but luu bo, a classical Vietnamese
weapon. In the afternoon of the 14th, in Gia Roi temple, people
hold a worshipping ceremony. On the 15th, all ceremonies continue
in a more entertaining manner with more traditional games such as
duck catching, rice cooking competition, firecrackers hurling
contest.
Starting Dates in Western
Calendar 2005 Oct 11, 2020 Oct
30, 2007 Oct 19, 2020 Oct 07.
OC OM BOC FESTIVAL
The
Oc Om Boc Festival is a religious service to worship the moon
god of the Kho Me minority group. The festival is usually held on
December 15th of the Buddhist Calendar, or in October following
the Gregorian Calendar. At this religious festival, people thank
the moon god who brings about good crops, provides abundant fish
in the rivers, and maintains the health of human beings.
During the night of the full moon, as the moon appears, people
prepare a feast in the front yard of the pagoda or in their
houses. A plate of green rice flakes, ripe bananas, fresh peeled
coconuts, mangoes and other dishes are served to the moon god.
After the ceremony, the elders ask the children of the house to
sit flat on the ground with crossed legs, clasping their hands.
The elders then take a handful of green rice flakes and feed all
of the children at the same time. People also release paper
lanterns into the sky and banana-tree ferries, attached with
colorful lights and loaded with offerings into the channels and
rivers accompanied by the sound of music. The custom of releasing
flying lights and floating ferries is believed to sweep away the
darkness and humidity of the rainy season. On the following
morning of the full moon, the Ngo Boat Race is held. This crowded
festival is well prepared and deemed to be a great cultural event,
drawing hundreds of thousands of participants. In Kho Me language,
the Ngo Boat is called "Tuk Ngo". This boat is a pirogue, chiseled
from a hole in a trunk of good wood , in a lozenge shape. It has a
curved head and tail; therefore, it needs skillful sailors to
manage it in a competition. Otherwise, it is likely to be
capsized.
The racing spectacle takes place in a very serious manner, with
the participation of thousands of viewers who stand along a track
that stretches for kilometers. The boat master, standing in the
middle part of the junk, encourages his teammates with a light
gong. When the first boat reaches the finish line, a crowd of
people simultaneously scream. They believe that they have just
completed their responsibility to the moon god.
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