Thousands of visitors and pilgrims have flocked to the Phu Day festival, which kicked off on April 18 at the Phu Day historical and cultural relic site in Kim Thai commune, Nam Dinh province’s Vu Ban district.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Chairman of Vu Ban district People's Committee Lương Quốc Tuấn stressed the event as a festival of unique folk cultural activities contributing to enrich the traditional culture of the nation as well as preserve and promote the value of the Mother Goddess worship. He also urged local authorities to strictly ban superstitious activities and gambling during the festival.
Various cultural activities are a central part of the six-day festival (from April 18 to 23) including Chau van singing contest at temples of Tien Huong and Van Cat, a palanquin procession at Van Cat temple, a torchlight procession at Tien Huong temple, human chess, etc.
The Phu Day historical and cultural relic site comprises nearly 20 pagodas, temples and palaces dedicated to the Mother Goddess, Liễu Hạnh, one of the four immortal goddesses in Vietnamese folklore.
The Phu Day festival was recognised as a national intangible cultural heritage in 2013. The practice of the Mother Goddesses worship has also been recognized by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity
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