Festival honours Hung Kings’ parents
The northern midland province of Phu Tho held a ceremony on April 5 to commemorate the death anniversary of Lac Long Quan and Au Co – parents of legendary Hung Kings believed to be the founders of the Vietnamese nation.
Legend has it that Lac Long Quan (Dragon Lord) married Au Co (Fairy) who later gave birth to a sac containing 100 eggs. From the sac, 100 children were born and they fanned out to every corner of the country to settle down and form the Vietnamese state. The oldest son ascended the throne as Hung King and there were a total of 18 Hung Kings altogether.
Officials and pilgrims offered incense to Lac Long Quan and Au Co, showing their gratitude to the ancestors of the nation.
They also gave offerings including 100 square Chung and 100 round Day rice cakes, together with betel and areca and fruits, as offerings prepared by the 100 sons and daughters to Au Co.
The ceremony is part of the larger Hung Kings Temple Festival which falls on the 10th day of the third lunar month and lasts several days.
Ha Ke San, Vice Chairman of the Phu Tho provincial People’s Committee, head of the organizing board of the Hung Kings Temple Festival, said the festival is held to uphold the tradition of “drinking water, remembering its source”, as well as encouraging patriotism and unity.
