Phu Tho (VNA) – The annual Hung Kings Temple festival hosted by thenorthern midlands province of Phu Tho will be held from April 21-25 (6th to 10th day of the third lunar month) with an array of culturalfestivities.

The events include a ceremony dedicated to the Hung Kings, a memorial to markthe death of great legendary father Lac Long Quan and incense offering to the greatmother Au Co.

Communitiesin Phu Tho province will hold performances, including the Dao Xa elephantprocession ceremony. Xoan singing will be performed at the Lai Len Temple andthe Thet and Kim Dai communal houses in Kim Duc and Hung Lo communes of VietTri city.

Dozens of exhibitions will take place to advertise local culture while cakemaking contests, sport tournaments and folk games will be featured throughoutthe festival.

In addition, a night market and afood street will be arranged in a pedestrian zone to entertain tourists.

Other festivities will be contributed by four provinces: Thai Nguyen, QuangNam, Binh Duong and Kien Giang.

Accordingto Nguyen Dac Thuy, Director of the provincial department of Culture, Sportsand Tourism, Hung Kings Temple festival has become a standout festival thatattracts a throng of domestic visitors and Vietnamese expatriates every year.

Vietnamese legend has it that Lac Long Quan, whose real name was Sung Lam, theson of Kinh Duong Vuong and Than Long Nu, married the daughter of Heaven’s GodDe Lai, fairy Au Co.

Au Co then gave birth to a pouch filled with 100 eggs, which soon hatched into 100sons, believed to be Vietnam’s ancestors.

The couple decided to separate inorder to populate the land. Half of the children followed their mother to thehighlands, while the rest went with their father to the sea.

Their eldest son was made the king, who named the country Van Lang and set upthe capital in Phong Chau (nowadays Viet Tri city), starting the 18 reigns ofHung Kings. Ruling the country for 18 generations, the Hùng Kings taught thepeople how to grow wet rice. They chose Nghia Linh Mountain, the highest in theregion, to perform rituals devoted to rice and sun deities to pray.

The worshipping rituals of the Hung Kings are related to ancestral worshippingtraditions of most Vietnamese families, which forms an important part ofpeople’s spiritual lives. It was recognised by the UNESCO as an IntangibleCultural Heritage of Humanity in 2012.

The Commemoration of Lac Long Quan, Au Co and the Hung Kings is held annuallyat the Hung Kings Temple. Millions of people flock to the site to attend theHung Kings Temple festival every year.-VNA