Hùng Kings’ commemoration activities adjusted to ensure COVID safety

Young men representing Lạc Long Quân and Âu Cơ’s children in ancient costumes, hold their flags up high, expressing the vitality of the offspring of the fairy and dragon in the Hùng Kings’ commemoration in 2021 in Phú Thọ Province. — VNA/VnExpress News Photo Thống Nhất

HÀ NỘI — This year’s Hùng Kings’ commemoration on April 10 will be adjusted to ensure COVID-19 pandemic prevention and control.

Bùi Văn Quang, chairman of the People’s Committee of Phú Thọ Province, said at a recent meeting of the organising committee that the pandemic has been still showing complex developments so caution must be aired.

The Hùng Kings’ commemoration will be held at the weekend and the number of visitors is estimated to be higher than normal, he said, particularly as many events and festivals in the past were cancelled or scaled-down.

Quang ordered that the commemoration’s activities must be dignified, solemn, respectful, and deeply community-oriented. However, those activities attracting a large number of people must seriously follow regulations on COVID-19 pandemic prevention and control.

According to the committee, the local health department has sprayed disinfectant in areas both inside and outside of the Hùng Kings Temple Historical Relic Site.

The areas will be sprayed constantly during the commemoration, the committee said.

Antiseptic liquid will be provided for free at the reception area, the area around the temple as well as areas that will organise cultural activities for people during the commemoration.

The loudspeaker system has already been installed along the way to the temple to remind people to comply with the 5K messages of the Ministry of Health: Khẩu trang (facemask) – Khử khuẩn (disinfection) – Khoảng cách (distance) – Không tụ tập (no gathering) – Khai báo y tế (health declaration).

Officials at the historical relic site have been told to give masks to visitors for free and instruct them to wear them from the moment they enter the historical relic site’s gate and throughout the commemoration.

Lê Trường Giang, director of the historical relic site, said if the number of people coming to offer incense at the temple is too high, the authorised forces must ensure regulations of keeping a safe distance by minimising the number of people gathering in the area inside the temple.

The local health department has prepared ambulances, medical emergency teams on duty 24 hours a day, medicine and medical equipment, and antiseptic liquid to serve the commemoration.

Hùng Kings is the title given to the ancient Vietnamese rulers of the Hồng Bàng period (2879–258 BC). They were the Kings of Văn Lang.

The commemoration of Hùng Kings is annually observed on the 10th day of the third lunar month. The worshipping rituals of the Hùng Kings were recognised as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2012. — VnExpress News