Sacred water carried to Tran Temple in Thai Binh

Thousands of local residents carried palanquins in the rain during the traditional sacred water procession in Hung Ha district, Thai Binh province. This is a distinctive traditional ritual within the framework of the Tran Temple Festival in Thai Binh during the Year of the Dragon 2024, taking place from February 22-26.

The water procession is a traditional folk ritual practiced for centuries, symbolizing prayers for good weather and harmony, while also honouring the Tran ancestors, whose dynasty began with fishing, closely linked to rivers and water.

From early afternoon, elderly people respectfully light incense to invite the spirits of the Tran kings to witness the ceremony. Then, the procession starts from the temple courtyard, led by lion dancers and a palanquin bearing the statues of the Tran dynasty. Following them are procession teams representing villages and communes within and outside the district.

The procession travels along the Red River dyke to the designated spot where boats are waiting. These boats bring the monks and Buddhist followers to the intersection of the three major rivers: the Luoc River, the Red River, and the Thai Binh River. There, they collect water to bring back to the temple. After completing the water collection ritual, the procession returns to the temple to honour the Tran kings.

The festival also features a series of competitions, photo exhibitions, and more, attracting a large number of tourists from both inside and outside of the country./.

VNA