Festivals - Cultural features of the Coconut Land

01/05/2020 30/05/2021

Bến Tre

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For the people of Ben Tre, the festival is an indispensable part of their material and spiritual life, in order to honor the local cultural values, remember the merits of the sages; at the same time, to meet the needs of the community's cultural activities of the residents

For the people of Ben Tre, the festival is an indispensable part of their material and spiritual life, in order to honor the local cultural values, remember the merits of the sages; at the same time, to meet the needs of the community's cultural activities of the residents, making a significant contribution to the formation of the people's personality, qualities, customs and habits through each generation. Some unique and unique festivals in Ben Tre during the year are as follows:

Festival of revolutionary tradition

This is a festival to celebrate the illustrious victory day of the people of Ben Tre in the 60s of the twentieth century. The Dong Khoi event on January 17, 1960 was held annually at the Dong Khoi relic site on January 17 (Dinh Thuy commune, Mo Cay Nam district). The festival is an opportunity to review the heroic history of the nation, the glorious victory of the Dong Khoi movement has great significance in the struggle for national liberation; a shining example for future generations to study and preserve the Fatherland.

The festival aims to review the revolutionary tradition of the "Long Hair Army" with a large force of women, affirming the historical values ​​and the role of young female volunteers, heroic Vietnamese mothers, who made significant contributions to the unification of the country. Today, the celebration has been held on a large scale, with a grand stage and diversified activities related to immortal songs in the image of a burning torch that radiates the heroic spirit of the old Dong Khoi day. The site is recognized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism as a special national relic that has attracted many tourists and students.

Delicious and safe fruits festival

The annual festival takes place on the 5th day of May in Lunar Calendar (Mid-year Festival), in Cho Lach district, attracting a large number of domestic and foreign tourists. The purpose the festival is to exhibit and introduce fruits, seedlings, ornamental flowers and honor typical artisans and farmers of this gifted land. This event is also a forum for establishments, garden business households, experts and farmers to have the opportunity to exchange, share and learn experiences in production and consumption of products for development following the modern trend with clean, organic and safe agricultural products and adaptable to climate change, in line with the needs and tastes of the people. In addition, the festival is also an invitation to attract investors and businesses inside and outside the province for cooperation in agriculture, a model of joint development and production of typical local products, in order to develop tourism in the province. Currently, Cho Lach district is in coordination with the People's Committee of Ben Tre province, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities of Ho Chi Minh City and provincial departments to implement the project of Cultural and Tourism Village in order to contribute to the development of cultural tourism. Cho Lach district tourism develops according to the existing potential and enables Ben Tre specific tourism products to make a difference in the Mekong Delta region.

  

Delicious - safe fruit festival draws the attention of many visitors
(Photo: vietgiaitri.com)

Nghinh Ong Festival

It is a traditional festival of fishermen with traditional custom of worshiping whales (Ong fish) with the desire to express their gratitude to this sacred creature, pray for his support in danger, to calm the waves and the sea for bumper fishing. The festival is recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage, a great pride for the people of Ben Tre; especially seaside fishermen.

The whole province of Ben Tre has 12 mausoleums to worship Ong in many places, especially the coastal districts of Ba Tri, Binh Dai, and Thanh Phu. In which, Nghinh Ong festival in Binh Thang commune, Binh Dai district usually held on June 15-16 of the lunar calendar is considered as Nghinh Ong festival with large scale and typical organization in Ben Tre, Tomb of Ong worship is located in the Chay village, which was built and inaugurated in 1951 with a three-room architecture facing the East. The special feature of the festival is that it takes place on the sea, the ceremony with many solemn rituals including: Tuc Yet ceremony, Nghinh Ong ceremony, Chanh Te ceremony and Xay chau dai boi; In which, Nghinh Ong ceremony is the most important part. After the ceremony, there continues an exciting festival part with folk games: tug of war, lion dance, and so on. On this occasion, visitors will feel the warmth and hospitality of the people, immerse yourself into the bustling atmosphere.

Nghinh Ong Festival is held in Binh Thang commune, Binh Dai district (Photo: XTDL)

Currently, Nghinh Ong festival is a cultural beauty imbued with the identity of seaside fishermen, has a far-reaching influence, great attraction for the participation of other local fishermen and tourists; in addition, contributing to diversify and enrich festival activities in the Land of Coconuts.

  1. Traditional Cultural Festival

This is the cultural festival of Ben Tre province; patriotic poet Nguyen Dinh Chieu was born on July 1, 1822. Every year, Ben Tre province takes July 1 as the Ben Tre cultural day to celebrate his birthday. The festival was held at the special national relic "Tomb and Memorial of Nguyen Dinh Chieu" (An Duc commune, Ba Tri district) to commemorate the birthday of the Old Teacher.

Despite not being born in Ben Tre, Nguyen Dinh Chieu spent most of his life living and working in this land. He was both a teacher, a physician, and a great poet of mankind; many unique patriotic poetic works of Teacher Chieu had a profound influence on the patriotic strata of the people at that time and the current generation also.

The ceremony is solemnly organized with traditional rituals, incense offerings and visits to the Poet's Tomb, a festival with many cultural and artistic activities such as organizing Southern amateur singing contest, a cooking contest, preparation of Vietnamese herbs, excerpts from reformed theater transforming into Luc Van Tien - Kieu Nguyet Nga (the character in the poet's famous work Luc Van Tien), drum performances, traditional sports activities such as martial arts performances, etc., which attracts a large number of people and tourists to attend.

Traditional Cultural Festival attracts a large number of tourists to attend (Ảnh: XTDL)

Coconut Festival

As a special festival and cultural event of the province held in Ben Tre city on a national scale; in order to honor the value of coconut trees, coconut products and individuals with socio-economic activities associated with coconut trees, especially artisans and farmers who have attached themselves to coconut trees - a tree attached with the people of Ben Tre through generations. The festival includes activities such as: Happy Coconut Village Festival in localities in the province; Coconut product exhibitions, trade fairs, seminars on the coconut value chain, tour "Experience rivers and gardens in the Coconut Land", combined with tours, routes promotion to promote trade and tourism.

Coconut Festival is a special and unique event of Ben Tre province (Photo: XTDL)

In addition, within the framework of the Coconut Festival, there are also traditional activities, introducing the image of the land and people of Ben Tre such as: food festival, coconut fashion show, Ba Ba (loose-fitting blouse) festival and so on. Ben Tre has organized the Coconut Festival 9 times at the provincial level and 5 times at the national level, increasingly asserting its influence, attraction on the participation of thousands of domestic and foreign tourists, significantly contributing to the socio-economic development of the province, promoting the beauty of local tourism.

Ky Yen Festival

There has been a long time in the worship of Vietnamese people in order to give thanks to Thanh Hoang (Tutelary God) and the forebears reclaimed and founded the nation; "Ky Yen" means praying for national peace, good weather, lush crops. The whole province of Ben Tre has over 100 communal houses distributed in all districts; some rice-growing districts with large quantities such as: Giong Trom, Ba Tri, Thanh Phu.

This is a festival of agricultural residents held twice a year on the occasion of the Thuong Dien event (a sacrifice dedicated to the God of earth at the beginning of farm work) and Ha Dien (midweek of November and December of the lunar calendar). This festival usually takes place over 3 days; On the first day, the festival of Tuc Yet and the festival of Tien Vang takes place (these two are used to worship the forebears and people with meritorious services to the country), the Chanh Te ceremony (the worshiping of Thanh Hoang Bon Canh), and the construction of the great emperor. In the majority of communal houses worshiping gods, all of which are ordained by the king, there is a ceremony to open the god's identity, held in the middle of the first night to commemorate the merits of establishing the career of the ancestors.

This festival is the spiritual need of the inhabitants of wet rice farming, a cultural beauty from the time of reclaimation; an opportunity for people in the village to pay respects to their ancestors, and at the same time, chance for villagers to meet and have fun after days of farming.

These are special and unique festivals in the Land of Coconuts, contributing significantly to the introduction of traditional culture, the friendly and hospitable image of Ben Tre./.

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