On the morning of February 3rd, the Dong Ky firecracker procession took place in Tu Son district, Bac Ninh province with the participation of hundreds of young men showing the spirit against foreign invaders.
On every 4th day of the lunar New Year, Dong Ky villagers hold a firecracker procession to celebrate General Thien Cuong, who is the tutelary god of the village and the one who led locals to fight foreign invaders.
From early morning, men who are called “chu tuy” (in yellow - red shirts) carried firecrackers of 6 and 5.8 meters long, which were decorated with dragons, unicorns, tortoises and phoenixes to the village traditional house. The giant firecrackers would be taken to the village commune house in a procession. Outside, the women called “ba dam” prepared clothes for “chu tuy” (firecracker carriers). “Ba dam” are 51-year-old women. At around 9 pm, the firecrackers were carried through the main road in the village by 300 men who are less than 50 years old. Sometimes “chu tuy” jumped up and shouted loudly. ![dong ky, firecracker festival, firecracker procession]( "dong ky, firecracker festival, firecracker procession") After the giant firecrackers arrived at the village communal house, the ceremony was performed by four men called “quan dam.” With the ritual ending, and four “quan dam” were carried to the yard by half-naked men. “Quan dam” were four men at the age of 51, symbolizing the four generals who led local men to fight invaders. The half-naked men carried “quan dam” around the yard of the communal house. Finally, “quan dam” said goodbye to people to go to the battlefield. |
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VNE/Thegioivanhoa
After the giant firecrackers arrived at the village communal house, the ceremony was performed by four men called “quan dam.”
