Doi Son “Tich dien” (ploughing) Festival to take place from February 21 to 23

It is a traditional agriculture festival that honours the role of farmers and pray for favourable weather and good crops.

Rituals held within the festival include the procession of a huge drum and King Le Dai Hanh’s ancestral tablet from Long Doi Son pagoda to the foot of the Doi Mountain, where it merges with the processions of the village’s guardian god and the father of Doi Tam drum-making. The joint procession then proceeds to the land where King Le Dai Hanh ploughed to encourage farmers to work diligently.

This is followed by a ceremony to pay respect to the God of Agriculture to pray for a high-yield season and prosperity.

Particularly, a respected elderly farmer representing the local people assumed the role of King Le Dai Hanh to perform praying to the ancestors and the god of farming. The elderly farmer, who was dressed in a nine-dragon hat and royal robe, then descended to the field to plough. He is followed by a crowd throwing green pea, peanut and rice seeds.

The event includes a wide range of festive activities such as sports competitions, folk games, buffalo decoration contests, singing performances, and displays of typical farm produce and handicrafts.