La Phu village spreads a 3km long flower mat to welcome the village's tutelary god.

(CLO) On February 4, the 7th day of the first lunar month, households of 11 villages in La Phu commune (Hoai Duc, Hanoi ) gathered along the village road, spread flower mats, set up altars and performed the ritual of welcoming the village's tutelary saint.

Accordingly, every 5 years in La Phu commune (Hoai Duc district, Hanoi), the village's tutelary saint is carried out in a procession. Along the procession route, people spread out flower mats and arranged offerings to welcome him, everyone reverently praying for peace and luck in the new year.

Every 5 years, on the 7th day of the first lunar month, the procession of the village's tutelary god La Phu takes place.

Mr. Nguyen Van Phuong - a member of the La Phu festival committee said: According to the genealogy kept at the communal house, the 7th day of the first lunar month is the birth date of the village's tutelary god and the 14th day of the first lunar month is the day of his death.

Today, February 4 (January 7), La Phu people will carry the palanquin from the Upper Temple (La Phu communal house) to the Lower Temple (Quan Trach) in Dong Nhan village, Dong La commune. Previously, according to the administrative boundary, Dong Nhan village belonged to La Phu commune, but later separated and belonged to Dong La commune, so the procession is a joint procession of 2 communes with a distance of 3km.

“Every five years, we will perform the ritual of carrying the palanquin from the Upper Temple to the Lower Temple in the morning of January 7th, and then bring it back in the afternoon. From January 7th to January 15th, people will offer offerings. In particular, the main ceremony of “carrying the pig” is on the night of January 13th, then on January 14th (the death anniversary of the Saint), the whole village will abstain from singing, festivals, playing games…, almost the whole village is “dead silent” - said Mr. Nguyen Van Phuong.

From early morning, people have spread new mats along the route where the Saint will be carried.

The mats are all new, meticulously and sincerely adjusted by everyone to be the most beautiful.

In addition to the mats spread out, many families also set up an offering table outside their house gate. According to Ms. Ta Thi Lien (house number 400, Quyet Tien village, La Phu village): "Since early this morning, my family has arranged offerings in front of the door to welcome and welcome "him" through. This ceremony is very important to us, although the ceremony is not required for every house, but with all our heart and respect, each family arranges offerings in front of the door depending on each house, most of them have fruits, votive papers...".

Everyone lit incense, preparing to welcome the village's tutelary god passing by.

At around 8am, the sound of drums echoed throughout the village streets. The drum troupe went first and the procession of the village's tutelary saint began.

La Phu Commune (Hoai Duc District, Hanoi) has about 11 villages, all the people gather to perform this procession ceremony that only happens once every 5 years.

After the drum troupe is the lion and dragon dance troupe, with many entertaining acts that add to the joy of the New Year's procession.

Mr. Nguyen Van Phuong - a member of the La Phu festival committee said: "Along the way, people spread mats on both sides of the road. This practice of spreading mats comes from the people's sincerity. Everyone brings new mats to spread, when the Saint passes by, people ask for his blessings and luck to spread them on children and sick people to rest in peace and be healthy."

People were happy and excited on the day of the communion.

The mats spread out are the people's respect for the village's tutelary saint, the flag ceremonial team is neatly arranged waiting.

In each group, there is one person performing the command ritual, in the photo is the drum beat signaling the group to move.

According to Mr. Nguyen Hung Huynh - Vice Chairman of La Phu commune (Hoai Duc, Hanoi), every year the villages hold a "pig procession" ceremony on the night of January 13. But every 5 years we will organize a procession of the village's tutelary god on January 7; the whole commune has 11 villages, after the ceremony at the communal house, the procession will take place in the morning, and the procession will return in the afternoon.

The palanquin will be carried by young men in the village aged 16-19 years old.

Crowded people standing on both sides of the street carrying the palanquin.

Everyone sincerely prays for peace and luck.

It can be said that the procession of the village's tutelary god, which is held once every five years, is the biggest festival in La Phu commune (Hoai Duc, Hanoi).

Everyone in the commune was excited and eager because the procession took place once every five years so people had the opportunity to "ask for luck" from the Saint.

A large crowd of people walked behind the procession, everyone praying for luck for their family and neighborhood in the new year.

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/lang-la-phu-trai-chieu-hoa-dai-3km-ruoc-thanh-thanh-hoang-lang-di-qua-post332982.html