Thousands gather to witness pig procession festival
VOV.VN - An annual festival featuring a procession of pigs was held in La Phu village of Hoai Duc district in Hanoi during the evening of February 17, capturing a great deal with public attention and encouraging thousands of local people and visitors to attend.
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| Each year the festival takes place on the 13th day of the first lunar month. |
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| The aim of the procession is for villagers to commemorate the Tam Lang Kingdom which existed during the 6th Hung Due Vuong period and struggled to bring peace to the nation. The villagers worship him as a deity of the village. |
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| Whenever an enemy threatened the area, the villagers would prepare a feast of steamed sticky rice and pork to offer to the general and his troops before their battles and following their victories. |
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| The festival takes place between 6pm and midnight during the thirteenth day of the first lunar month. |
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| Large carcasses of pigs are paraded along the village path leading to the communal house as an offering. |
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| Both adults and children are keen to partake in the festival. |
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| Vibrant dance performances entertain crowds during the festival. |
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| A large number of local people and visitors gather together at the event, those present pray for a year ahead of health and luck for themselves and their relatives. |
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| At 9pm the pigs of each of the 17 communes are picked by the villagers as an offering. |
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| The pig offerings were raised with extra special care this year. The biggest pig weighed up to 270kg. |
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| Following the ritual ceremony held by the elders, the pigs are returned to their communes and divided among local households. |
