Annual festivities celebrate heritage

Many people are expected to attend two big ceremonies in Nam Dinh and Ha Nam provinces on the night of Feb. 15 and early morning of Feb. 16.
A seal opening ceremony to welcome the new year is being held at the Tran Temple, Loc Vuong Ward in the northern city of Nam Dinh, the cradle of the Tran dynasty in the 13-14th centuries.
The country's leaders, the provincial chairman, the provincial Party committee secretary and the 14 oldest people from Loc Vuong Ward have been invited to attend the ceremony in Thien Truong (upper temple).
This year, replica good luck seals will be issued to the public at 75 locations to prevent disorder. About 10,000-12,000 people are expected to receive seals from the organisation board.
The ceremony is held annually to preserve and express cultural and moral values and traditions of Vietnamese ancestors, especially the national heroes under the Tran dynasty.
Covering more than 10ha in Loc Vuong Ward, 80km south of Hanoi, the Tran Temple comprises Thien Truong where the 14 Tran kings are worshipped, Co Trach (lower temple) dedicated to General Tran Hung Dao (1228-1300), and Bao Loc Temple, home to the General's tomb and statue.
Tran Hung Dao was famous for his triumphs over the mighty Mongol Yuan dynasty. In Ha Nam province, six stores of food were placed in Tran Thuong Temple by the General in 1285 to serve in his second fight against the Mongol Yuan.
Since then, a food ceremony has been held by local people in his honour. The ceremony will be held at 15 locations around the temple, and about 50,000 people are expected to attend from 11.05pm Feb. 16.