14TH NATIONAL CONGRESS OF THE COMMUNIST PARTY OF VIETNAM

Offering incense to the death anniversary of Hung Kings

Thuy Duong - Ngoc Tu

Apr 21, 2021 / 04:49 PM

Although the Hung Kings' commemoration will be observed nationwide tomorrow, April 21, quite a few pilgrims have come to Hung Kings' Temple in the northern province of Phu Tho in the days leading to the festival.

The Hung Kings' commemoration day falls on the tenth day of the third month in the lunar calendar or April 21 this year. However, numerous incense offering rituals had been held in Viet Tri city and some communes and districts of Phu Tho province some days before, from the first day to the seventh day of the third lunar month.

As Kinh te & Do thi noted, King Hungs' Temple is busiest in the days leading up to King Hung's commemoration day.

From very early morning, local pilgrims carried offerings to the top of Nghia Linh mountain- where Hung Kings' temple is located- in preparation for the solemn one-in-a-year ritual.

Residents are asked to disinfect and wear facemasks before entering the relic site.

It was 9 o’clock in the morning of the ‘rush day’ – the ninth day of the third lunar month. At the courtyard of Hung Kings' Temple, there was no sign showing the site would be as crowded as in the previous years.

Pilgrims are offering incense. They then visit Middle Temple and Upper Temple later.

According to statistic from the Management Board of Hung Temple Relic Site, there were more than 30,000 pilgrims visited Hungs' Temple on April 17 and 18, particularly on April 18, the number of pilgrims reached over 20,000.

Facing the risk of Covid-19 pandemic’s outbreak, People's Committee of Phu Tho province considers the pandemic prevention and control the most important task. Hand-sanitizer bottles are placed at the entrances of each of the temples and key positions within the relic; free masks are given to pilgrims; local authorities are asking people, through loudspeakers, to maintain a safe distance and ensure disinfection as important measures to prevent the spread of the virus.

As planned, there will be a high-altitude fireworks display from 8 to 9pm tonight (April 20) at Van Lang Lake, Viet Tri City right after the art performance themed “Sacred fatherland - Hung Kings' Temple” that takes place at the same venue at 7pm.