On the night of April 2 (the 5th day of the 3rd lunar month), thousands of people from all over Vietnam flocked to the Phu Day Relic Site in Vu Ban District, Nam Dinh Province, to witness and participate in the torch procession - one of the most sacred and symbolic events in the Phu Day Festival.

Artisan Tran Thi Hue, a Meritorious Artist and Keeper of the Chinh Tien Huong Temple, explained that the dang long torch procession carries profound spiritual meaning. It expresses reverence for Saint Mother Lieu Hanh, the central deity in the Vietnamese Mother Goddess belief system.

The torch symbolizes the light of faith and conveys the collective hopes of temple keepers, villagers, and devotees for a life filled with warmth and happiness.

The ceremony begins with monks, abbots, spiritual leaders, temple guardians, and shamans reverently lighting the sacred flame from the temple’s inner sanctum.

This sacred fire is then brought outside and used to ignite over 1,000 torches held by “warriors” participating in the procession.

Before the procession begins, fireworks light up the sky above Chinh Tien Huong Temple, accompanied by enthusiastic cheers from the crowd.

The glowing torches illuminating the night, combined with the solemn, spiritual atmosphere of the festival, create an ethereal scene that captivates onlookers.

The procession starts at Chinh Tien Huong Temple and proceeds past the Tomb of Saint Mother Lieu Hanh. It continues along a winding path beside the mountain, past Tien Huong Pagoda, loops around the Cong Dong Temple, and returns to the starting point.

More than 1,000 participants hold aloft flaming torches, walking in unison and forming a spectacular visual highlight of the festival.

According to Vietnamese folk beliefs, the flame taken from the Mother Goddess’s altar during the festival period carries sacred, auspicious energy.

To ensure smooth traffic flow and public safety, over 100 police officers and security personnel were deployed throughout the route.

The Phu Day Festival, deeply connected to the legend of Saint Mother Lieu Hanh, has spiritual resonance across many regions of Vietnam.

It has become a unique spiritual and cultural tourism product of Nam Dinh Province. The Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism has included the festival in the National Intangible Cultural Heritage List.

Throughout the festival, a variety of traditional rituals and cultural activities take place, including hau dong (spirit mediumship) ceremonies, sutra-inviting rituals, floral processions, the torch procession, and many folk games.

Trong Tung