Ploughing festival marks start of growing season

Tich Dien (Ploughing) Festival was held in Doi Son commune, Duy Tien district in Ha Nam province on February 10, marking the traditional beginning of the rice growing season in Vietnam.

The Ploughing Festival is held annually on the 7th day of lunar January, attracting crowds of thousands of people (Source: VNA)

The festival began in 987 during the Le dynasty when King Le Dai Hanh decided to plough in Doi Son commune, Duy Tien district to wish for bumper crops (Source: VNA)

The ceremonial drumming is performed by women in Doi Son commune, it signals the start of a new growing season (Source: VNA)

A respected elderly farmer is chosen to play the role of King Le Dai Hanh (Source: VNA)

Traditionally he is followed by the other elders of Doi Son commune as he ploughs the first furrows (Source: VNA)

Traditionally he is followed by the other elders of Doi Son commune as he ploughs the first furrows (Source: VNA)

Girls scatter handfuls of rice and corn, the first sowings of the new growing season (Source: VNA)

Local people perform dragon dances to celebrate the new farming season (Source: VNA)

VNA