Đồng Nhân Village Festival

The difference lies, however, in the date of the festivals and the specific significance of each of them:  Hạ Lôi Village holds the festival on January 6 (lunar year), that is the date when the two heroines staged the uprising whereas Đồng Nhân Village holds their festival on February 5 (lunar year), the date when villagers recovered the statues of the two sisters from the Red River.

A painting depicting the two Trưng Sisters defeating the Han invaders

During the Lý Dynasty (12^th century), there was a fishing community living in the Precinct which later became Đồng Nhân Village, on the bank of the Red River. One night, after returning from a fishing trip, each group, as usual, drove a bamboo pole deep into the river bed and tied, their boat to it. Yet, in that very night, the chief notable saw in his dream a spirit who told him: “you have driven the pole in the hand of Mother”. The next day, the chief notable summoned all the members of the community and informed them of his dreams. Thereupon, it was decided to send divers to reconnoiter the river bed. The divers found two statues. The fishermen tried to recover them from the river but to no avail. Then, a ceremony was held in order to beg for guidance and assistance from God. Again, the spirit gave has advice: “you must not use ropes. Instead, long red silk bands should be used”. Acting in accordance with this advice, the fishermen recovered the 2 statues, which are those of the Two Trưng Sisters. Thereafter, a pagoda was built, and the statues were put in the back chamber of the pagoda, and a festival was held every year to commemorate this important event.

The Temple dedicated to the Trưng Sisters, Đồng Nhân Village, Hai Bà Trưng District, Hà Nội

Preparations

Prior to August 1945, the population of Đồng Nhân Village comprised 4 groups, which worked together in protecting, looking after the pagoda and providing additional cult instruments. Each year one of these groups had to contribute labor to the organization of the festival.

The festival is held on February 5, but preparations start the 15^th of December of the proceeding year, when villagers elect the conductor of the Festival, who is chosen from among heads of harmonious families having both sons and daughters. The selected master must then bring some offerings to the temple – usually betel and liquor – in order to seek sanction, by throwing two coins on to a dish. Thereafter, on January 1 (lunar year), he must again come to the temple with offerings, involving glutinous rice and dishes of meat, and perform an additional ceremony.

After celebrating the Lunar New Year, the villagers set about all the preparations, including the appointment of:

-          Two young men who escort the elephants and, for this purpose, must wear red dresses with blue tripes:

-          Twenty old women who lead the procession and offer prayers during the trip

-          Twenty young men who would carry the multi-colored flags, the parasols, the drums, gongs and cymbals, and the cult instruments, these young men must wear short red dresses, white pants, blue puttees.

-          Thirty-two persons who carry palanquins and 4 persons who carry a jar of water, these 36 persons must wear long black dresses, white pants, red cloth belts

-          A musical band.

The ceremony committee has the responsibility to:

-          Check up on the state of the instruments of the cult and procession such as the flags, swords, palanquins, (including one palanquin for carrying water), get them repaired or replaced if necessary.

-          Check up on the state of clothing used for cult and procession

-          Receive visitors and guests from other places

Ready for the religious ceremonies at the Đồng Nhân Village Festival in memory of the Trưng Sisters

Sequence of the festival

February 4:

-          Final preparations involving check-up of cult instruments, flags, etc.

-          Prayers and offerings

February 5:

-          Red River water procession: This is the Festival’s main event, which is associated with both primitive religious beliefs on agriculture and the cult of historic personalities.

The ceremony in honor of the Two Sisters starts as soon as the procession returns to the temple. In some years, the ceremony is fully performed by women, from the master down to attendants.

Lamp dance: The ceremony is often followed by a lamp dance, a piece of folk culture greatly appreciated by the population, in which dancers move to the bent of drums. The dance is performed by a group of 10 girls clad in long black dresses with a red belt cloth tied to the panel of the dresses. Each lamp consists of plate with a burning candle in the middle and is surrounded by paper-made flowers. The dancers, each holding two lamps, glide softly before the altar, either in 2 rows or in one row, now forming a circle, now forming a different geometrical figure. Sometimes, the 2 rows interwined with each or move opposite to each other in front of the altar. Moving in the light – now dim, now bright – of the candles, the dancers must take care to keep the candles burning throughout the dance while not allowing them to burn the surrounding paper shades.

In particular, the lamp dance is led by a young man, disguised as a girl of easy virtue. The girl wears a long black dress, white pants, a gauze turban, and carries on her shoulders, decorated with colored fringes, a small drum, and on her back several small flags. The dance leader moves with soft, woman-like movements, while beating rhythmically on the drum in order to provide guidance to the dancers and make the dance performance lively and attractive.

February 6: