Highlights of Phong Le Village Shepherd Festival

qno_z5418362812496_ed213abeb38896251f357c888f16b450.jpeg — The procession carrying Shennong seen from above. Photo: QT

On May 7-8, the Shepherd Festival was recreated at Than Nong communal house, Con Than and the ancient village of Phong Le.

The rituals in the festival include 3 ritual parts and 1 festival part. First is the procession of Than Nong from Con Than to Than Nong temple. Next is the ceremony to place the god in the temple, the ethnic groups take turns to go to the temple to offer incense and pay homage to the god. Finally, the procession of Than Nong to Phong Le field takes place throughout the day.

The procession starts from Con Than to Than Nong temple. Photo: QT

A special part of the festival cannot lack the shepherd singing to thank the God of Agriculture, the gods who descended to bless the people with health, prosperity, and good crops...

The Shepherd Festival is associated with the Than Nong communal house in Phong Le. The communal house is located in the center of Hoa Chau commune, leaning against the mountain and facing the sea, and was recognized as a city-level historical and cultural relic on June 14, 2007. Over time, due to many different reasons, the festival is in danger of fading away.

An elder in the village performs a ceremony to worship Than Nong. Photo: QT

According to the leader of Hoa Chau Commune People's Committee, this festival is a creative product that demonstrates community cohesion. The cultural identity in the Shepherd Procession Festival has been maintained, practiced, and passed down through generations by the community, with a strong influence on the spiritual and cultural life of the people of Phong Le village.

Although the festival is no longer held regularly, the Than Nong communal house is always worshiped by the people of Phong Le village, a sacred place and a special relic of the village.

It is known that the last time the festival was held in feudal times was in the 11th year of Bao Dai (1936). After a 70-year hiatus, the Shepherd Procession was restored and held three times in 2007, 2010 and 2014.

The Shepherd Festival is to thank the God of Agriculture and the gods who descended to bless the people with health and prosperity. Photo: QT

According to oral tradition, Phong Le land used to have a grass island. One day, someone drove a flock of ducks onto the island, and the ducks' feet suddenly stuck to the ground as if a hand was holding them back. The locals believed that a god had descended and no one dared to approach the island, so from then on this place was named Con Than.

One day, a herd of buffaloes ran astray onto the islet. The shepherd children came to look for them but were unharmed. Since then, rumors have spread that Con Than only allowed shepherd children to come near. Con Hamlet was later called Dong Hamlet, and was the gathering place for the village shepherds.

Originating from that story, after many generations, a festival dedicated to shepherd children was gradually formed, called Phong Le Village Shepherd Festival, taking place on the 1st of the 4th lunar month every year.