Phu Giay Festival Vietnam

Sunday, 20 June 2010 21:24

Last Updated on Saturday, 04 September 2010 12:10

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The Phu Giay Festival, Vietnam is dedicated to Lieu Hanh. It is held in the Phu Giay Temple located in Kim Thai commune, Vu ban district, northern Ha Nam province. It is celebrated from 1st March to 10th March every year according to the lunar calendar. It is amongst one of the major Vietnam festivals and events.

Every year thousands of followers join the yearly Phu Giay Festival, Vietnam. 20 to 30 young men from every village join the festival carrying two meter long decorated bamboo sticks. They stand in ranks to forge four Chinese characters “Mau Nghi Thien Ha”.

3rd March is the death anniversary of “The Mother”. Mother Lieu Hanh is escorted from the Van Cat Temple to Dan pagoda on 5th March and from Tien Huong Temple to Goi Pagoda on 6th March. The young men have an important role in these processions. It involves lacquered and gilded palanquins to be carried by eight people on each trip. Old women carry a long piece of cloth on their head forming “The Bridge” for geniuses and spirits to travel. Colorfully dressed young men and women holding burning incense sticks follow them dancing and chanting loudly. These processions stretch for more than two to three kilometers.

A major attraction of the Phu Giay Festival is the game of ‘human chess’ where girls play the role of the chess pieces. There are many other games practiced in the Phu Giay Festival, Vietnam that is liked and enjoyed by the visitors. It is one of the most popular of the festivals of Vietnam.