(VOVworld)- Saint Giong is one of the four immortals worshipped by Vietnamese people. Saint Giong is worshipped in several places in Vietnam and many localities organize Giong festivals, but the Giong festival in Phu Dong temple is the most popular.

The Giong festival is held each year in the middle of lunar April to honour the glorious feats of arms of Saint Giong, who wiped out foreign enemies and opened a new page in the history of Vietnam’s struggle against foreign invaders. Historian Le Van Lan says:“Saint Giong was from Giong, now called Phu Dong village. He never spoke or smiled until he heard the news of a foreign invasion, he soon became a national hero by defeating the foreign enemies. He became the symbol of a staunch fighting spirit and is still honoured as one of Vietnam’s most outstanding generals”.

The Giong festival is observed by 5 villages all closely associated with the Saint Giong legend. Phu Duc village was the place where Saint Giong was born, Phu Dong was the place Saint Giong left to defend the nation, Dong Vien was the home village of Saint Giong’s mother. And on the southern bank of the Duong river are the villages of Dong Xuyen and Hoi Xa where Saint Giong’s mother used to live and buffalo boys joined Saint Giong to defend the nation. According to legend, on the 9^th day of the 4^th lunar month, Saint Giong defeated the northern invaders. This is now the main day of the festival. During the festival, a palanquin procession goes held from the Mother Temple to the Upper Temple and the historic defeat of the enemy is recreated.

The Giong festival inspires patriotism, promotes Vietnam’s heroic tradition and fans the aspiration for independence and freedom. Ngo Van Nhip lives in Phu Dong village: “We are very proud of our tradition which has been handed down through many generations. We go to the festival to pray for peace and happiness for our family and the country”.

Le Quang Duc, an 8^th grader says that by attending the festival, he has learned something about his roots: “My parents said I would be luckier if I went to the festival. At the festival, I’ve enjoyed the mock battle most. My grandparents told me the story of Saint Giong”.

Hundreds of artisans participate in the battle re-enactment. According to Nguyen Ngoc Huy, a village elder, before the festival the five villages meet to select an actor to play Saint Giong: “We select men between the ages of 18 and 50, who are strong and handsome to perform in the festival. We also select girls to be female generals. They are from 10 to 13 years old.”

The Giong festival conveys a message of unity in fighting foreign invaders that the elders want to pass to younger generations.