VOV.VN - The traditional Tịch điền (ploughing) festival was held in Doi Son commune of Duy Tien district, northern Ha Nam province, on February 4 to pray for bumper harvests and prosperity for people moving into the new lunar year.
The annual festival is organised on the seventh day of the first lunar month with the aim of praying for a bumper rice harvest in the new lunar year.
It’s said the first ploughing ceremony was organised at the foot of Doi Mountain by King Le Dai Hanh in the spring of 987, and the ritual has become a tradition practiced in every spring since.
The festival reflects the great importance of agricultural production as part of the economy.
Leaders offer incense in tribute to King Le Dai Hanh before the festival begins.
A performance of drumbeats marks the start of the new growing season.
A respected elderly farmer, dressed in a royal robe of King Le Dai Hanh, descends to the field to plough.
He is then followed by a crowd throwing green peas, peanuts, and rice seeds.
Farmers take part in the ploughing ritual at the event.
The image of a buffalo is closely tied to the wet rice civilization in Vietnam, highlighting its vital role in traditional agriculture.
Some buffaloes are selected to participate in the ritual to pray for favourable weather and bumper crops.
Despite the development of science and technology in agriculture, the traditional ploughing ritual has been held every spring to preserve and develop the country’s cultural tradition.
Từ khóa: Ploughing festival, Ploughing festival,bumper harvests,new lunar year