Photos: Thousands of young men stampede to get lucky ball at festival

VietNamNet Bridge – Thousands of young men rushed to get a lucky ball, which is thought to bring prosperity to the family and village, during the Phet Hien Quan Festival on March 3. Some were injured, and others fainted.

Phet Hien Quan festival is organized on the 12th and 13th day of the first lunar month in Hien Quan commune, Tam Nong district in Phu Tho province. This is a festival to pay tribute and honor the merit of Thieu Hoa female general and princess.

It is said that Princess Thieu Hoa – Hien Quan came to Phuc Thanh pagoda when she was 16. Knowing that Trung Trac raised an army to launch a revolution, Thieu Hoa gathered a group of 500 soldiers practicing and playing the game of throwing harpoons, and they went to Hat Mon to join the army of Hai Ba Trung.

She was titled the “Dong cung tuong quan” (General of the East) to lead the army to Luy Lau and fight To Dinh. When the enemy was defeated, Trung Vuong praised the generals but Thieu Hoa did not receive the reward to be an official in the court but asked to come back to the village. Trung Vuong granted the Song Quan commune (current Hien Quan) to be the hamlet under her ruling.

A year later, Thieu Hoa passed away, and people built the temple to worship her and Trung Vuong granted her a title of “Princess supporting the nation” (Phu Quoc Cong Chua).

On the 12th and 13th of first lunar month, people organize Hoi Phet to pay tribute her merit. In Hoi Phet Hien quan, after the offering in Thieu Hoa temple, the phet (a red ball) is brought to the fixed area.

On the way, the phet is covered by the parasol and strong women surround it. Then it is put in a hole under the sand and thrown by a stake for people to rush to catch.

Hundreds of strong men try to catch it in hopes of bringing luck to the family and his village, so the competition is fierce. The festival of catching Phet in Hien Quan attracts many people.

Photos of the festival in 2015: