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2. Dong Da Mound Festival
Dong Da Mound Festival is held annually on the 5th day of the Lunar New Year at Dong Da Mound, Quang Trung Ward, Dong Da District, Hanoi. This is a festival of victory, organized to commemorate the glorious feats of King Quang Trung - a national hero in the history of resisting foreign invaders. The festival features various lively games, showcasing the martial spirit. Among them, the procession of the Thang Long Fire Dragon is the most unique. In the morning of the festival day, officials and elders in the village gather to prepare for the grand ceremony. Close to noon, from Khuong Thuong Village Temple to Dong Da Mound, a celebratory procession takes place. The procession, long and colorful, is visually stunning, moving slowly and orderly for the public to admire the elaborate statue of the festival.
Following the solemn rituals are various folk games and performances such as lion dances, dragon dances, wrestling, human chess, and cockfighting. The homeland of King Quang Trung - Nguyen Hue is in Binh Khe District, Binh Dinh Province. Here, people have built a temple for the three brothers of Tay Son Dynasty: Nguyen Nhac, Nguyen Hue, and Nguyen Lu. Every year, on the 5th day of the Lunar New Year, people from everywhere gather here to offer incense and flowers to express gratitude to the heroes and martyrs, and to reminisce the glorious history of the nation. They also organize martial arts competitions, stick fighting, drumming contests... which are very unique. Particularly, participation in martial arts competitions is not only for men but also for women, making the festival even more attractive to visitors. Nowadays, attending Dong Da Mound Festival has become an indispensable need for Hanoians in the early days of spring.
