Hanoi (VNA) – The Bao Ban Festival in Non Khe village, Yen Tu Commune, Yen Mo district, the northern province of Ninh Binh, a time-honored tradition dedicated to paying tribute to ancestors and village founders, captivates visitors with its grand scale, ceremonial rites, and unique traditions.
Taking place annually on the 14th day of the first lunar month, the festival begins with a solemn incense offering and tribute ceremonies, paying homage to the village founders and fallen heroes who sacrificed their lives in wartime. Villagers gather to report their achievements to ancestors and the village’s guardian deities, celebrating the academic and professional successes of the younger generations while reflecting on the past accomplishments.
The festival comes alive with an array of traditional games and cultural performances. From intense chess competitions to the exhilarating lion dances and wrestling matches, the air is filled with excitement. Folk singing and various other sports activities further enrich the experience, creating a lively atmosphere that draws everyone in.
A highlight is the bustling night market held on the evenings of the 12th and 13th of the lunar month. Here, thousands of visitors flock to savour rustic, homegrown delicacies that tantalize the taste buds such as Banh Duc (steamed rice cake), Banh Gai (thorn leaf cake), Banh Cuon (steamed rice rolls), Bun Rieu (crab noodle soup), and Bun Oc (snail noodle soup).
Conducted with both solemnity and reverence, the festival remains vibrant and warm, embodying the spirit of community and heritage. As the festivities conclude, Non Khe residents eagerly step into a new season of labour, filled with hope for greater prosperity and well-being than the year before.
The festival carries nearly 600 years of history, echoing a pivotal era in the late Le Dynasty when soldiers defended and expanded Dai Viet’s southern borders. Beyond its historical significance, it embodies the spiritual beliefs of the Vietnamese people in the lower Red River Delta.
Furthermore, the festival serves as a cultural repository, preserving various traditional values and elements that shape the village’s unique identity. Folklore, folk architecture, ceremonial scripts in Nom characters, and traditional culinary techniques for preparing sticky rice, cakes, boiled chicken, and pork offerings are meticulously maintained.
The event has preserved relatively intact ancient rituals associated with the worship of village founders, national heroes from the Le dynasty, and water deities. It also reflects the sun worship beliefs of wet-rice agricultural communities through traditional customs such as the procession of the saint and palanquin from the east, a ceremonial village tour, nighttime feasting, and raising ritual roosters.
Recognising its rich cultural and historical significance, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on December 10, 2024 issued a decision officially endorsing the festival as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage. To preserve and promote this heritage, Ninh Binh is committed to improving the role of local authorities in directing, managing, and guiding festival activities. Efforts will also be made to raise public awareness, conduct research, collect materials, restore and document the festival.
Additionally, the province plans to stage traditional Cheo performances and music shows to enrich the festival experience. This will further encourage the community’s role, promote the festival’s cultural value, and increase social engagement in the conservation./.
