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Every time the new year comes, every household recalls the phrase “No matter who goes against the tide or follows it/ Remember the day of Ancestors' Death Anniversary on the tenth of March”. This is the festival of mountains, rivers, and the entire Dragon-descendant nation. Despite the changes of the times, the Đền Hùng Festival remains a symbol of beautiful high culture, where the essence converges and the national culture shines.
1. Time and Venue of the Đền Hùng Festival
1.1 Overview of the Timing of the Đền Hùng Festival
The Đền Hùng Festival will take place from the 6th to the 10th day of the 3rd lunar month. In 2024, The Đền Hùng Festival falls on the 29th day of April (which corresponds to the 10th day of the 3rd lunar month, the anniversary of Hùng Kings' Death). What's special is that this year's Hùng Kings' Death Anniversary will coincide with the 48th anniversary of the Liberation of the South on April 30th and International Workers' Day on May 1st.
Travelers check in at the Historical Site of Đền Hùng, Phú Thọ.
Đền Hùng is located on Nghĩa Lĩnh Mountain, Hy Cương Commune, Viet Tri City, Phú Thọ Province, where the annual national festival is held to honor the Hùng Kings, the founders of the nation.
The ceremonial rituals are solemnly organized on the main festival day (the 10th of the 3rd lunar month), starting with the offering ceremony represented by the state at the Upper Temple, where the Hùng Kings used to worship the heavens and the earth. Besides the five-fruit tray, offerings also include square and round glutinous rice cakes to recall the legend of Lang Liêu and remind of the merit of the ancient Hùng Kings who taught people to grow rice.
1.2 Specific Timing of Events during the Đền Hùng Festival
1.2.1 Event Section
The ceremonial part of the Đền Hùng Festival includes the ritual of offering flowers by delegations from the Party, Government, and provinces with solemnity and reverence.
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From the 1st to the 5th day of the 3rd lunar month will be the offering of incense by representatives from districts, municipalities near the Hùng Kings' temples.
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The 6th day of the 3rd lunar month will be the day of the Commemoration Ceremony for the National Ancestor Lạc Long Quân along with the Offering Ceremony in memory of Mother Goddess Âu Cơ.
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The 7th day of the 3rd lunar month will witness the Procession Ceremony to Đền Hùng Phú Thọ conducted by nearby localities.
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The 10th day of the 3rd lunar month is the main festival day. On this day, there will be two main events: the Offering Ceremony at historical sites of the Hùng Kings and distinguished generals in the province, and the Offering Ceremony at the Relief Sculpture of “Uncle Ho talking with the forefront pioneering cadres and soldiers of the Great National United Front”.
Offering rituals are an indispensable part of the Đền Hùng Festival.
1.2.2 Event Section
Various cultural activities are organized around the foot of Hùng mountain: Folk performances (drumming, gongs, wrapping competition, making square cakes, pulling cooked rice...), professional art troupes from provinces and cities, amateur cultural teams, numerous sports competitions reflecting the rich cultural heritage.
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On the 1st and 2nd day of the 3rd lunar month: Visitors can admire artworks, publications, and documents about Hùng Kings and the worship rituals at the Museum, Đền Hùng heritage area.
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On the 3rd day of the 3rd lunar month: Welcoming Ceremony for the Recognition of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of the Nation for the Đền Vân Luông Flower Stealing Festival
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On the 6th day of the 3rd lunar month: Experience drum performances, spear thrusting at the Đền Hùng Heritage Site, and performances of xoan singing and water puppetry.
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On the 7th day of the 3rd lunar month, there will be performances serving tourist tours.
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On the 8th day of the 3rd lunar month, there will be a competition for making square cakes and pounding round glutinous rice cakes in Phú Thọ province.
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On the 9th day of the 3rd lunar month, there will be a swimming competition on Văn Lang Park Lake, and notably, the Đền Hùng Festival 2024 will organize a 15-minute fireworks display at Văn Lang Park.
After the ceremony comes the festival section, every year the Hùng Kings' Death Anniversary Festival also includes a procession competition among villages nearby, making the atmosphere even more lively and bustling. The winning procession will be represented in the following year's festival to parade to the Upper Temple for the national ceremony, which is a great pride and honor for the whole village. They believe they will be blessed with luck and happiness by the Hùng Kings and the deities.
Each procession at the Hùng Kings' Festival consists of 3 elaborately decorated palanquins painted with gold and adorned with intricate motifs. The first palanquin carries incense, candles, betel leaves, areca nuts, and offerings of rice wine. The second palanquin contains incense burners, offerings to the Gods, along with a canopy and a fan. The third palanquin carries square and round glutinous rice cakes and a whole boiled pig's head. Following the three palanquins are local officials and elders wearing ceremonial robes.
The Đền Hùng Festival holds increasingly profound significance in the spiritual life of the community. Today, both domestically and internationally, there are many temples dedicated to the Hùng Kings and figures from the Hùng Kings era.
Local residents with historical relics (communal houses, temples, shrines, etc.) dedicated to the Hùng Kings and historical figures from the Hùng Kings era voluntarily organize ceremonies, processions to Đền Hùng, and prepare local specialties as offerings to the Hùng Kings.
2. The Meaningful Spiritual Significance of the Đền Hùng Festival
Vietnamese people have a tradition of patriotism and always remember the principle of 'gratitude for the source.' The Hùng Kings symbolize the highest virtue of nation-building and preservation, honored, revered, and worshipped by the people.
The belief in worshipping the Hùng Kings was formed within the sacred cultural and spiritual space of the Historical Relic Site of Đền Hùng, where national consciousness and historical awareness were also cultivated.
The Đền Hùng Festival also becomes vibrant and attracts domestic tourists from all regions, crystallizing the essence of Vietnamese spiritual culture. Throughout history, from feudal dynasties to the present day, the Đền Hùng Festival is the only festival officially recognized with national ceremony.
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3. What to Prepare for the Đền Hùng Festival?
The Đền Hùng Festival often carries profound significance related to abundant beliefs including “Fire - Bows - Mortar - Pestle - Square Cakes - Round Glutinous Rice Cakes”. These beliefs symbolize the desire for a prosperous and continuously developing nation. Among them, square cakes represent the Dragon and round glutinous rice cakes represent the Fairy. Therefore, it can be said that square cakes and round glutinous rice cakes are two indispensable offerings of the Đền Hùng Festival.
In addition to square cakes and round glutinous rice cakes, visitors can also offer other items such as sticky rice, chicken, beef, goat meat, white wine, fresh fruits, etc.
The Hùng Kings were the first to teach our people how to cultivate rice, laying the foundation for our nation's rice civilization. For those tourists unable to visit the Historical Relic Site of Đền Hùng Phú Thọ, they can still make offerings at home, but it's essential to include rice, square cakes, and round glutinous rice cakes in the offering tray.
4. Traveling to the Đền Hùng Festival and Sightseeing Spots
4.1 Traveling to the Đền Hùng Festival
During the Đền Hùng Festival, the unique and significant Xoan singing ritual takes place. Around the foothills are various traditional folk performances and games. If you've visited Hanoi during this time, don't forget to visit to witness the beautiful customs in the Vietnamese people's tradition.
Visitors returning to the homeland face no religious discrimination; as long as they are Vietnamese, they have the right to be proud descendants of the Hùng Kings. Therefore, any Vietnamese person with sincerity can fulfill their aspirations by easily and conveniently booking a pilgrimage tour.
Traveling to the Đền Hùng Festival
4.2 Places Visitors Can Explore at the Đền Hùng Festival
4.2.1 The Lower Temple
The Lower Temple, built in the 17th-18th centuries, showcases ancient architecture. Legend has it that this area is where Mother Âu Cơ laid a hundred eggs. Behind the main hall of the Lower Temple, the Dragon's Eye Well, where the eggs were nurtured, is still preserved.
The Lower Temple boasts ancient temple architecture full of solemnity.
4.2.2 The Middle Temple
While the Lower Temple follows a double-pillar architectural style, the Middle Temple is built in a single-pillar design. It is where the 6th Hùng King passed the throne to his son, Lang Liêu, according to the legend of bánh chưng and bánh dày. Additionally, this area used to be a gathering place for royal officials to stroll and discuss state affairs.
4.2.3 The Upper Temple
The Upper Temple is situated atop Nghĩa Lĩnh Mountain. It's called the Upper Temple not only because of its high location but also because it's where the Hùng Kings often worshipped the heavens, praying for a year of favorable weather, abundant harvests, and the well-being of the people. During the An invasion, the 6th Hùng King also prayed for assistance here.
4.2.4 Thiên Quang Pagoda
Thiên Quang Pagoda is located near the Lower Temple. It was where Uncle Hồ conversed with the Vanguard Army before returning to Hanoi for leadership. Moreover, visitors to Thiên Quang Pagoda can admire the bell cast during the Lê dynasty.
4.2.5 Hùng Vương Mausoleum
According to local folklore, the Hùng Vương Mausoleum is the tomb of the 6th Hùng King. Situated in the southeast direction, it lies east of the Upper Temple. Keen observers may notice that the mausoleum is built in the style of 'head facing the mountains, feet towards the water.'
4.2.6 Pearl State Well
The Pearl State Well at the Hùng Kings Temple complex is a place of remembrance and worship for the two princesses who contributed to rice cultivation and flood control. These princesses were Tiên Dung and Ngọc Hoa. The Pearl State Well is where these two princesses used to gaze into mirrors and comb their hair.
The Festival of the Hung Kings or the commemoration of Hung Vuong, is an occasion for future generations to celebrate the prosperity of the community. Contact our hotline Mytour if you intend to book affordable tours to visit this place. Additionally, we also handle bookings for hotels, flights, or all-inclusive travel packages. Our experienced team of advisors is always ready to assist you in choosing the most suitable services.
