Loyalty Oath Festival named as National Intangible Cultural Heritage

Dong Co Temple Loyalty Oath Festival has been held in the capital for nearly 1,000 years.

The festival is the only place where mandarins (in ancient times) and party members today take an oath of loyalty to the country. It's also an opportunity for the people to thank their forefathers and offer prayers for national peace and prosperity.

In 1028, Dong Co Temple was built in Dong Xa Village, now 353 Thuy Khue Street, Tay Ho District, Ha Noi.

King Ly Thai Tong ordered the Festival of Loyalty Oath to be held annually at Dong Co Temple, where all court dignitaries, without exception, had to swear allegiance to the king and the country. The festival is held on the fourth day of the fourth lunar month, which falls on May 22 this year.

Although 995 years have passed, the cultural identity of the Dong Co Temple festival has remained intact.

Among the newly recognized heritages, there are four in the northwestern province of Tuyen Quang, namely: "Fire Dance Ceremony of Pa Then People"; "Hong Thai Communal House Festival"; "Tay People's Knowledge of Water"; and "Tay People's Knowledge and Practices of Wet Rice Cultivation".

The northwestern province of Dien Bien has four new heritages, including "Dance Art of the Lao People"; "White Hmong Family Lineage Festival"; "Costume Art of the Ha Nhi People"; and "Blacksmithing of the Mong People".

The other three are "Tay Lullaby"; "Tay Brocade Weaving"; and "Mong Khen Art"./.

https://www.vietnamplus.vn/dac-sac-hoi-the-trung-hieu-ky-niem-995-nam-den-dong-co/862018.vnp