President offers incense in commemoration of Hùng Kings

A ceremony was held in the northern province of Phú Thọ on April 10 morning to commemorate the death anniversary of Hùng Kings. — VNA/VnExpress News Photos Thống Nhất

PHÚ THỌ — A ceremony was held in the northern midland province of Phú Thọ on April 10 morning or the 10th day of the third lunar month to commemorate the death anniversary of Hùng Kings – the legendary founders of the nation, with President Nguyễn Xuân Phúc attending.

The incense-offering ceremony took place at the Hùng Kings Temple Relic Site on Nghĩa Linh Mountain, where the kings performed rituals devoted to rice and sun deities to pray for bumper crops.

President Phúc, Party and State officials, and leaders of Phú Thọ Province offered incense and flowers in tribute to the Hùng Kings, praying for the nation’s peace and prosperity.

Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Bùi Văn Quang spoke highly of the great contributions of the Hùng Kings, the legendary founders of Văn Lang – the first State in Việt Nam, while praising the ancestors’ resilience in protecting the nation.

President Nguyễn Xuân Phúc, Party and State officials offer incense at Hùng Kings Temple Relic Site.

Following the incense-offering ceremony, President Phúc and the delegates laid a wreath and offered incense at the tomb of the 6th Hùng King, and paid tribute to late President Hồ Chí Minh and martyrs at the relief featuring the late leader’s talk with soldiers from the Tiền Phong (Vanguard) Division stationed at the relic site.

On the occasion of the death anniversary of the Hùng Kings, tens of thousands of Vietnamese people from across the country and abroad paid homage to the national founders at the temple complex.

Legend has it that the eldest son of Lạc Long Quân (son of Kinh Dương Vưong) and Âu Cơ (the fairy daughter of Đế Lai) was made king. He named the country Văn Lang and set up the capital in Phong Châu (modern-day Việt Trì City), beginning the 18 dynasties of the Hùng Kings.

The kings chose Nghĩa Linh Mountain, the highest in the region, to perform rituals devoted to the rice and sun deities to pray for bumper crops.

To honour their substantial contributions, a complex of temples dedicated to the kings was built on Nghĩa Linh Mountain, and the tenth day of the third lunar month serves as the national commemorative anniversary for the kings.

The ground-breaking ceremony of the Phú Thọ Province’s cultural and art house at the Hùng King Square. 

Later the same day, Phúc attended the ground-breaking ceremony of the provincial cultural and art house at the Hùng King Square in Việt Trì City, which is expected to be a destination for tourists to the city.

Phú Thọ is home to two examples of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity – the worship of Hùng Kings and Xoan singing. — VnExpress News