Da Communal House Festival – Ha Nam

The Da Communal House Festival is a traditional festival that celebrates the local culture and history of Da (Stone) Communal House in An Mong hamlet, Tien Phong commune, Duy Tien district, Ha Nam province. The festival is held on the 6th day of the first lunar month and includes various activities such as a worshiping ceremony, a palanquin procession, an Agriculture Genie worshiping ceremony, and games such as wrestling and rowing.

The Agriculture Genie worshiping ceremony is a ritual that prays for the prosperity and well-being of the villagers and their crops. After offering incense, wine, and a written prayer to the Genie at the communal house, the master of the ceremony and his assistants lead a procession of incense tables to a plowed field near the communal house.

The boat rowing in Chau River is a game that commemorates the legend of Princess Nguyet Nga, who was the daughter of King Ly Thanh Tong and the wife of General Tran Hung Dao. According to the legend, she killed herself by jumping into the river after her husband was accused of treason by her father. A dragon boat then appeared and took her to the river palace.

The wrestling game is also a tribute to Princess Nguyet Nga, who was known for training the soldiers of her husband. The legend says that she often organized this game to improve the strength and skills of the warriors.