A traditional ceremony to remove “cay neu” (Tet pole) and open the royal seal was re-enacted in the Imperial Citadel of Hue, central Thua Thien-Hue province on February 25, the seventh day of the first lunar month and the last day of the Tet celebration.

The event was organised by the Hue Monuments Conservation Centre to mark the official closing of the Tet festival in the Hue heritage site, reported the Saigon Giai Phong (Liberated Saigon) newspaper.

Under the Nguyen Dynasty (1802-1945), cay neu was erected on the 23rd day of the last month of the lunar year in Hue Citadel, starting the Tet holiday.

A tall bamboo pole was erected with some ritual items, like a royal seal, pen brush and swords, which were guarded by solders, to be hung on its top. It was believed to expel evils and pray for favourable weather and bumper crops in the New Year.

The pole was ceremonially removed on the seventh day of Tet, bringing an end to the New Year celebration.

At the ceremony to remove the pole in Hue, the centre re-enacted the royal seal opening and presented calligraphy with a seal on it to visitors on the special day.-VNA