Thang Long citadel hosts imperial rituals to keep tradition alive
The Thang Long royal citadel in the capital city of Hanoi has been glowing with the atmosphere of traditional Lunar New Year from the ancient time as a cultural programme to welcome the Year of the Buffalo is underway at the site.
Hanoi (VNA) – The Thang Long royal citadel in the capital city ofHanoi has been glowing with the atmosphere of traditional Lunar New Year from theancient time as a cultural programme to welcome the Year of the Buffalo isunderway at the site.
Highlight of the programme is the “Tien Xuan Nguu” ritual, which was practicedin the Le Trung Hung dynasty (16-18th century) to pray for a warmspring with bumper crops. The ritual was re-enacted for the first time at KinhThien Palace.
The ritual was held on the Lap Xuan day (the day when the spring begins) underthe witness of the King as well as civil and military mandarins.
Also on February 4 – the 23rd day of the last lunar month, the ThangLong heritage conservation centre staged a farewell ceremony for the Land Genieand the Kitchen Gods (Ong Cong-Ong Tao) on their yearly visit to Heaven, whileorganising a ceremony to erect “cay neu” (a bamboo pole with arrows, bells,gong and other leaves) to ward off evil spirits and chase away bad luck of theprevious year.
The conservation centre also arranged an exhibition to introduce the “Tien XuanNguu” ritual as well as many other traditions during Tet such as worshipping space,giving li xi (lucky money) and calligraphy.
Other activities held within the programme include xin chu-cho chu (requestingwords- offering words), colouring folk paintings and “to he” (toy figurines)making.
Due to complicated developments of the COVID-19 pandemic, the centre hasenhanced prevention measures by regularly updating visitors with 5K message:Khau trang (facemask), khu khuan (disinfection), khoang cach (distance), khongtu tap (no gathering) and khai bao y te (health declaration), as well asarranging automatic body temperature measurement machines, and hand sanitisers.
The programme will take place until March 1. The heritage site will beaccessible free of charge for tourists from February 13./.
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At Kinh Thien Palace (Photo: VNA) 
