(VOVworld)-Festivals to celebrate the Spring take place in most provinces in Vietnam. Bai Dinh Pagoda festival began on Friday in the northern province of Ninh Binh. Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc hit the drum to open the festival and joined a bird release ceremony to pray for peace and prosperity. The 1,000 year history Bai Dinh Pagoda was the place King Dinh Tien Hoang prayed for mild weather and King Quang Trung prayed for victory before defeating the Qing invaders.

A buffalo painting contest began in Duy Tien District of Ha Nam province. The ceremony marked King Le Dai Hanh’s ritual to remind people of focusing on agricultural production as a source of prosperity and happiness. 20 best buffaloes have been selected to join the Tich Dien ritual on the 7^th of the new lunar year. Their skins are beautifully decorated ahead of the event. Nguyen Thi Hoi is a local in Phu Ly city, Ha Nam province: “The festival of buffalo drawing is unique. It follows a legendary that the buffalos must get dressed up to welcome the King. Animals are drawn on the buffalos’ skin in line with the yearly zodiac, which are snakes for this year.”

Yen Bai, Lao Cai and Phu Tho provinces jointly held a festival to highlight ethnic culture. Nong Thi Minh is a deputy chairwoman of Van Yen district people’s committee: “We organized activities to promote traditional culture and games such as wrestling and art performances. Visitors could enjoy the charming melodies of flutes by Hmong ethnic people and folkgames of the northwest.”

A wrestling contest opens in the central province of Thua Thien Hue’s  Quang Dien district to welcome the traditional lunar new year. Ngo Thoi Phong is a local visitor: “Our festival begins with a ritual to pray for good health and good weather. The wrestling contest has been open to competitors from other regional provinces.”

-------