Traditional celebration of Doan Ngo Festival replicated

An ancient ritual was reproduced on June 1 at Thang Long Imperial Citadel in Hanoi as part of the celebration of the Doan Ngo Festival (which take place on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month).

Traditional celebration of Doan Ngo Festival replicated at Thang Long Imperial Citadel in Hanoi.
Traditional celebration of Doan Ngo Festival replicated at Thang Long Imperial Citadel in Hanoi.

During the Later Le Dynasty (1533 - 1789), kings would host a ritual to give fans to all the mandarins during the Doan Ngo Festival in summer.

With the hot weather surrounding Doan Ngo Festival, the ritual to give fans to all the mandarins showed the king's special care for the mandarins.

This year, the organising board displayed a 2.4m-sized royal fan from 1503 with a poem written by King Le Hien Tong inscribed on the fan along with the display of some replica fans for kings, queens and mandarins.

The exhibition space also introduces visitors to the unique customs of Doan Ngo Festival. On the occasion, the public listened to Professor of History Le Van Lan and Culinary Artist Pham Thi Anh Tuyet speak about old customs and old trays on Doan Ngo Festival.