Explore Van Phuc Village’s sacred water rite
Each spring in Hanoi’s outskirt commune, villagers gather along the Red River to perform a centuries-old water offering ceremony, an enduring prayer for fertile fields, favorable weather and communal prosperity.
THE HANOI TIMES — Van Phuc is an ancient village located on the banks of the Red River, where the lives of its people have been closely intertwined with the water for generations.
Therefore, water is not only a source of life but also a sacred symbol of fertility and growth.
The lively festival of Van Phuc Village, Nam Phuc Commune is held annually. Photo: Hoang Quyet/ The Hanoi Times
The Van Phuc Village Festival is held annually from the second to the fourth day of the Lunar New Year to honor the village’s tutelary deity, Uy Muong, who, according to legend, helped residents reclaim land and develop agricultural production.
The highlight of the festival is the water procession ceremony. This ancient ritual expresses the wish for favorable weather, abundant harvests and prosperity for the rice-growing inhabitants of the northern delta region.
From early morning, villagers - dressed in traditional costumes - gather, with colorful flags fluttering and gongs and drums echoing throughout the village.
Leading the procession is the lion dance troupe, followed by the elders, the chief priest, the male and female ritual officials and a large number of people.
The procession moves to the river confluence - the point where the currents meet, chosen as the location for collecting sacred water.
The water-fetching ritual is performed with utmost care. According to folk beliefs, the spring water carries the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, symbolizing purity and good fortune.
The sacred water, then, is used to cleanse the ancestral tablets, for ceremonial offerings and to bestow blessings at the beginning of the year.
The procession eagerly moves along the road, from the village temple to the riverbank.
This unique festival is held once a year in the spring.
The procession boards boats and heads out onto the river.
They stop at the confluence of the rivers, where the water flow is clearest.
The elders solemnly take each ladleful of water and pour it into earthenware jars.
The ritual reflects the worship of the village guardian deity and the riverine culture of the Northern Delta region.
For thousands of years, the water-fetching ritual of the Van Phuc Village festival has been preserved through generations.
The water-fetching ceremony is more than a spring ritual; it serves as a vital thread binding the community together, deepening and preserving the cultural heritage of the local people.
