Nui Ba Festival in Hanoi

Hanoi is a city of festivals. There is always a reason to celebrate. And, the people of Hanoi know how to celebrate it to the fullest. Most of the festivals are associated with their religious belief and faith. Some festivals are held to usher in the new year or the new season marking the beginning or end of their harvesting time while, some festivals are more like events upholding the traditional and cultural richness of the land and celebrating a past which is glorious with the toil of its people. What is more fascinating is the narrative of the beautiful legends associated with the origin of these festivals. The festivals and events are calendared according to Lunar month. Normally, a lunar month stays longer than the western month of around 30 days.

There is a beautiful legend related to the Nui Ba Festival in Hanoi. Nui Ba is a lovely mountain located in the middle of the Mekong Delta, 11km from downtown Tay Ninh. Nui Ba or Ba Mountain is often called Ms. Den Mountain. The legend has it that the mountain was named after a young woman called Denh. She was the devout daughter of a guard officer of the Mien ethnic minority group. Denh left her house to enter a monastery in the mountains. She became a nun due to family pressure to marry a guard officer's son from the Trang Bang Area. She remained at the monastery until she died. After her death, the Nguyen Dynasty ordered that a mould of her should be cast in black bronze in her honor giving her the status of Linh Son Thanh Mau or Saint Linh Son.

Features of Nui Ba Festival in Hanoi

  -   During the annual celebration, thousands of Buddhists and tourists flock to the Ba Mountain to worship and sightsee.
  -   The festival is celebrated during spring till the 30th day of the 1st lunar month.
  -   The festival reaches its peak on the day of the full moon of the first month when people from the Ho Chi Minh City and the provinces of the south gather in crowds at the mountain.
  -   Pilgrims start at the bottom of the mountain and climb one half of the mountain to Saint Linh Son's communal house.
  -   Then, they follow a path that leads to a pagoda.
  -   Pilgrims can have the vegetarian meals, offered at the pagoda.
  -   No cost is charged from the tourists for the meal.
  -   They can donate money to the pagoda depending on his budget and ability.

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