Highlights of Xuan Pha Festival 2024

On March 19 (February 10, the year of the Dragon), the traditional festival of Xuan Pha village in 2024 was held in Xuan Truong commune, Tho Xuan district.

Delegates offer incense at the festival.

Xuan Pha village festival has existed for a long time. This is considered an annual traditional cultural activity of the villagers, including unique folk performances and games such as: the ceremony of the ancestors, the procession of literature, the procession of royal decrees, the procession of holy cards, the ceremony to worship Thanh Hoang, tug of war, etc. According to tradition, Xuan Pha festival starts from the 9th day of the 2nd lunar month.

Xuan Pha village festival commemorates the merits of the village's tutelary god, Dai Hai Long Vuong Hoang Lang Tuong - who helped King Dinh Tien Hoang defeat the 12 warlords. This is considered an annual traditional cultural activity of the villagers, the festival takes place with main activities: procession of literature, procession of royal decree, procession of palanquin, procession of feasts, traditional sacrifice, tug-of-war competition and 5 Xuan Pha dances, tug-of-war competition between cultural villages.

The festival's highlight is the Xuan Pha dance competition of 6 villages with 5 unique folk dances called "Five nations and neighboring countries presenting tributes", including the following acts: Champa, Ai Lao, Ngo Quoc, Hoa Lang and Luc Hon Nhung (also known as Tu Huan) simulating the tribes and neighboring countries presenting tributes to King Dinh.

The performance props are mostly made from available materials such as bamboo, bamboo, vông wood, si tree roots... The characters participating in the performance are colorfully dressed, with the main colors being red, blue and yellow. The types of performance props are attractive with elephant, tiger, horse, unicorn skins, masks, cowhide hats, bamboo hats, swords, boat oars, flags... The musical instruments used in Xuan Pha dances are drums, cymbals, wooden clappers or bamboo flutes, creating extremely cheerful sounds.

Xuan Pha Festival was recognized as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage in September 2016. The festival is the pride of the people of Xuan Truong commune in particular and Thanh Hoa in general, demonstrating the tradition of remembering the source of drinking water, pride, solidarity and national cultural identity.

Do Duy Nha (Contributor)

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/van-hoa-giai-tri/dac-sac-le-hoi-xuan-pha-nam-2024/209460.htm