Heavy heart for the homeland

Respect and remember the source

To date, Mr. Doan Thuy Long has lived in Minh Tan village, Quang Minh commune (Gia Loc) for 14 years. He majored in graphic design and worked in Hanoi, but his fate with Hai Duong people kept him in this land. In 2008, while working in Hanoi, he returned to Hai Duong to help a relative open a wedding photography shop. After that, he met his current wife and decided to stay in Hai Duong to live and work.

Mr. Long is from Bang Gia commune, Ha Hoa district, about 60 km from Hung Temple. Almost every year, his family arranges time to return to Hung Temple on the occasion of the death anniversary of the Hung Kings. This is also a tradition of many households in Bang Gia commune. Families who can afford it prepare a savory offering tray, while those who cannot, prepare incense, flowers, tea, and fruit to go to Hung Temple on this occasion to show their respect. Although he lives in another locality, he has tried to maintain this good tradition for many years.

“When going to Hung Temple during the festival, my children are very excited to witness traditional rituals and customs such as stabbing bamboo shoots, carrying palanquins, offering incense, singing xoan; and join in the vibrant atmosphere when cheering on folk games such as wrestling, tug of war, rowing…”, Mr. Long shared. According to Mr. Long, while cultural customs, traditions, and folk games are gradually becoming less common in daily life, children are familiar with video games and social networks, trips to the source like this have a very practical meaning, contributing to nurturing and educating children about traditions. This is also an opportunity for adults to return to their childhood and love their roots more. Mr. Long also regularly organizes trips to the source, bringing friends and colleagues to visit Hung Temple, participate in the Hung King's Commemoration Ceremony, and spread the beauty of national culture.

In previous years, Mr. Le Nam regularly brought his family to pay respects at Hung Temple on the occasion of the Hung Kings' death anniversary.

Like Mr. Long's family, in previous years, Mr. Le Nam's family, born in 1987, from Phu Ninh district (Phu Tho) often visited Hung Temple on the occasion of the Hung King's death anniversary. Mr. Nam's house is only about 6 km from Hung Temple, so it is relatively convenient for sightseeing and worship. Mr. Nam married a woman from Gia Loc district. Previously, he and his wife lived in Phu Tho province. In the past 2 years, he and his wife moved to Hai Duong to live. Due to the epidemic, they could not visit Hung Temple on the occasion of the Hung King's death anniversary this year, but he and his wife prepared a simple savory offering tray to commemorate their ancestors and origins.

“As far as I know, in Phu Tho, many households offer banh chung, banh day, or many places offer elaborate offerings such as whole pigs, carp, five-color sticky rice, black buffalo meat... But in my hometown, people usually only offer flowers, sticky rice, chicken, wine... I think offerings do not necessarily have to be high-class and full of food, but the most important thing is a sincere heart to ancestors and origins,” Nam shared.

Help fellow countrymen overcome difficulties

In addition to paying respect, many Phu Tho people have chosen the practical way of contributing to their hometown or supporting people in difficult circumstances in their hometown. For example, Ms. Do Thi Huong Ly, born in 1984, currently lives in Ngoc Chau ward (Hai Duong city). Ms. Ly's hometown is Xuan Ang commune, Ha Hoa district (Phu Tho). Ms. Ly has lived in Hai Duong for 9 years. Since moving to Hai Duong to live and work, she has regularly called on benefactors to support many difficult circumstances in Hai Duong and other provinces, including the less fortunate addresses in her hometown of Phu Tho. Once, she called for and supported nearly 10 million VND in cash and 100 pairs of sandals for the "Hai Duong Smile" group to give to disadvantaged households in Dien Bien province...

For poor households in her hometown, Ms. Ly often asks her friend, a teacher in Xuan Ang commune, to send information for support. Up to now, she has supported about 30 such cases, some children lost their fathers and mothers, some had their houses burned down... "Depending on the conditions and circumstances, I support each such case from 500,000 to 2 million VND. Even though I do not live in the locality, I still want to contribute my small efforts to my hometown," Ms. Ly shared.

Like Ms. Ly, many Phu Tho people in Hai Duong have contributed to their hometown through practical work such as supporting poor households, contributing to movements to encourage learning and talent, building welfare projects, etc.

With a heavy heart for their homeland, the children of Phu Tho in Hai Duong not only emphasize the tradition of "Remembering the person who planted the tree when eating the fruit" but also spread a beautiful lifestyle, build a new cultural life, and contribute to preserving and cultivating the quintessence of national culture.

VIET QUYNH