The Tram Gian Pagoda Festival
Every year, from the 4th to the 6th day of the lunar New Year, Tram Gian Pagoda organizes a festival to commemorate the merits of Thanh Boi and pray for the well-being, prosperity, and fortune of the community. The festival features various spiritual and cultural activities, attracting thousands of tourists and Buddhist followers from different regions.
One of the most important rituals of the festival is the procession of the sacred palanquin from the pagoda to Tien Lu village. The palanquin is adorned with fruits, traditional liquor, square sticky rice cakes (banh chung), cylindrical glutinous rice cakes (banh day), and carries a portrait of Thanh Boi. Young men from the village carry the palanquin on their shoulders, accompanied by the sound of drums and folk music played by local artisans. Along the way, the villagers cheer, make offerings, and seek permission to bring the palanquin into their homes. After circling the village, the sacred palanquin is returned to the pagoda and placed on the altar.
Another equally fascinating activity is the vegetarian food competition. This is a cooking competition among families in Tien Lu village, with the requirement of using only vegetarian ingredients such as vegetables, tofu, and mushrooms. The dishes are presented on bamboo or wooden trays, displayed in the pagoda courtyard for judges and visitors to evaluate and enjoy. The dishes not only need to be delicious but also carry spiritual meaning, reflecting the local customs and traditions.
Additionally, the festival features various entertaining traditional folk games such as human chess, wrestling, and water puppetry. Human chess is a game simulating chess but using human figures instead of chess pieces. Each side has 16 participants wearing either red or blue to distinguish teams. They stand on a large chessboard drawn on the pagoda's courtyard, following the commands of two generals. This game is highly entertaining and demonstrates the intelligence and cleverness of the players. Wrestling is a traditional sport of many Vietnamese ethnic groups, organized in the pagoda courtyard on the afternoon of the 5th day of the lunar New Year. Athletes compete in a direct elimination format until a champion is determined. Wrestling is not only a strength competition but also an expression of health, determination, and the heroic spirit of the Vietnamese people. Water puppetry is a unique traditional art of Vietnam, performed on water by artisans controlling puppets with strings and sticks underwater. The puppets often depict characters from folk tales, agricultural activities, or technical demonstrations. Water puppetry is an art form deeply rooted in the homeland and closely connected to the daily life of the people.
The Tram Gian Pagoda Festival is one of the outstanding and culturally significant festivals in Hanoi. The festival is not only an opportunity for tourists to explore the ancient and sacred architecture of the pagoda but also a chance to learn about the history, culture, and beliefs of the local people. The festival also provides an opportunity for visitors to enjoy delicious and healthy vegetarian dishes and participate in fun and educational traditional folk games.