Festival commemorates nation’s legendary father, mother

Nhan Dan Online/VNA – The Kinh Duong Vuong festival began at the historical site of the Kinh Duong Vuong-Lac Long Quan-Au Co temple and royal tomb complex in Thuan Thanh district, northern Bac Ninh province on February 15 (the 16th day of the first lunar month).

Vice President Nguyen Thi Doan beating the drum to open the festival (Credit: VNA)
Vice President Nguyen Thi Doan beating the drum to open the festival (Credit: VNA)

Vice President Nguyen Thi Doan and local authorities offered incense to commemorate the nation’s legendary father Lac Long Quan and mother Au Co, and prayed for peace and happiness for the country and people.

Legend has it that Lac Long Quan, whose real name was Sung Lam, the son of Kinh Duong Vuong and Than Long Nu, married the daughter of De Lai, the fairy Au Co.

Au Co then gave birth to a pouch filled with a hundred eggs, which soon hatched into one hundred sons, believed to be Vietnam’s ancestors. But soon after, Lac Long Quan and Au Co separated. Lac Long Quan went to the coast with 50 children while Au Co went to the highlands with the others.

Their eldest son was made the King, named the country Van Lang and set up the capital in Phong Chau (nowadays Viet Tri city, Phu Tho province), starting the 18 reigns of the Hung Kings.

Along with the solemn rites in respect of the ancestors, a wide range of sport and cultural activities such as Quan Ho (love duet) singing, water puppetry performances, card games, chess, wrestling and earthenware pot smashing, will be held at the three-day festival.