Co Loa Citadel Festival - Historic festival honoring King An Duong Vuong at the ancient Co Loa Citadel, featuring ritual processions and folk games.

The Co Loa Citadel Festival is a major annual historical and cultural event held from the 6th to the 16th day of the first lunar month, with the 6th serving as the main festival day. It takes place at the Upper Temple (Den Thuong) in Dong Anh District, Hanoi, which sits on the grounds of the ancient Co Loa Citadel—the royal palace of Vietnam during the reign of King An Duong Vuong.

 The festival commemorates King An Duong Vuong and his monumental contributions to the construction and defense of Au Lac (the former name of Vietnam in the 3rd century B.C.). The event is deeply intertwined with a famous tragic legend: The Golden Tortoise (Genius Kim Quy) gifted the King a magic crossbow capable of defeating thousands of enemies with a single shot. However, Princess My Chau unwittingly revealed the crossbow's secret to her husband, Trong Thuy—the son of the invading Chinese general Trieu Da. This betrayal led to the fall of the Co Loa Citadel in 208 B.C., ultimately resulting in the King killing his daughter for her treason before committing suicide.

Activities at the festival:

• Pre-festival Rituals (5th day): The festival begins with village officials from Co Loa and seven allied communes conducting solemn incense-offering ceremonies at their respective communal houses to honor the King's legacy.

• The Grand Processions (6th day): The main day kicks off with a massive and vibrant procession involving all 12 local villages. Accompanied by flags representing the five elements and traditional musicians, two distinct sedan chairs are paraded through the hamlets: one carrying the statue of King An Duong Vuong, and another bearing the beheaded statue of My Chau, symbolizing her tragic punishment.

• Main Ceremonial Events: Upon reaching the Upper Temple, village elders and citizens participate in a solemn incense-offering liturgy in front of a miniature royal court. Locals and tourists gather to burn incense, remember the King, and pray for peace and prosperity.

• Traditional Games & Competitions: Following the rituals, the festival bursts into a lively atmosphere. It features traditional games that showcase the chivalry and strength of the Vietnamese people, with wrestling and crossbow shooting being the most highly anticipated. Other activities include bamboo swings (đánh đu), throwing a sacred ball through a ring (ném còn), rice cooking competitions, human chess, cock fighting, tug-of-war, and martial arts demonstrations.

• Folk Performances: Throughout the festival days, the community is entertained by traditional Vietnamese cultural performances, including Chèo and Tuồng (traditional operas), Quan họ (love duets), and Ca Trù singing.

• Closing Ceremonies (16th day): The event concludes with a grand farewell and thanksgiving ceremony at the temple. The deity's cult table is returned to the sanctuary, marking the end of the festivities as locals carry forward the god's blessings for a prosperous year.

Read more at: thanhcoloa.vn