VietNamNet Bridge – The provincial People’s Committee of Phu Tho on April 13 held a grand ceremony to receive the UNESCO certificate recognizing the worship of Hung Kings as an intangible culture heritage of humanity.

Phu Tho leaders receives the UNESCO certificate recognizing the worship of Hung Kings in Phu Tho as an intangible culture heritage of humanity. 

The 2013 Hung Kings Temple Festival was also kicked off on the same day in the Hung Kings national special relic site in Phu Tho.

State President Truong Tan Sang, Head of the Central Propagation and Education Commission Dinh The Huynh, Deputy PM Nguyen Thien Nhan, other local and foreign officials, outstanding overseas Vietnamese and tens of thousands of Vietnamese residents nationwide attended the ceremony.

Addressing the ceremony, Ms. Katherine Muller Marin, Chief Representative of the UNESCO in Viet Nam, highly appreciated the solidarity and efforts of the Vietnamese Government, leaders and residents of Phu Tho in making all necessary preparations to protect the records of  the worship of Hung Kings, so that the mankind has another intangible cultural heritage.

At the ceremony, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hoang Tuan Anh introduced the national action program to protect and bring into play values of the worship of Hung Kings in Phu Tho in the 2013 - 2015 period with vision to 2020.

The art performances at the opening ceremony of Hung Kings Temple Festival. 

Speaking at the event, State President Truong Tan Sang said that the practice of worshipping Hung Kings, which embodies spiritual solidarity and provides an occasion to acknowledge national origins and sources of Vietnamese cultural and moral identity, is a source of strength for Viet Nam to overcome all difficulties and challenges to develop ceaselessly.

As part of the ceremony, an arts performance program took place with the participation of over 1,300 people, mainly artisans and artists in Phu Tho.

The festival is taking place from April 13 to 19 (from March 4 to 10 according to lunar calendar). A series of activities will be organized, including tourism development programs, street festivals, folk processions, Xoan singing, traditional cake making competitions, and photo exhibition.

Source: CPV