Hai Duong water puppetry national intangible cultural heritage

The Organizing Board of Con Son – Kiep Bac Autumn Festival on the morning of September 19 held the opening of the 4th Provincial Water Puppet Festival in 2013 at Kiep Bac temple relic (Chi Linh, Hai Duong).

Participating in the festival this year are three water puppet troupes of Hong Phong (Ninh Giang), Le Loi (Gia Loc), and Thanh Hai (Thanh Ha).

Programs and items at the festival must be uniquely staged and effectively performed, maintain characteristics of the folk puppetry, and ensure elements of traditional folk art.

The Organizing Board encouraged new items creatively and elaborately staged with high artistic quality.

At the opening ceremony, Mr. Nguyen Van Que, Vice Chairman of the Hai Duong provincial People's Committee, awarded the Minister of Culture, Sports, and Tourism's Certificate recognizing Hai Duong provincial water puppetry as part of the national intangible cultural heritage to three localities with traditional folk water puppet troupes, namely Hong Phong, Le Loi, and Thanh Hai.

The festival is to take place in two days of September 19 and 20 (i.e. August 15 and 16 in lunar calendar).

Following are some images of the festival:

Mr. Nguyen Van Que, Vice Chairman of Hai Duong provincial People's Committee, Head of the Organizing Board of Con Son – Kiep Bac Autumn Festival, sets off firecrackers to start the festival

Mr. Nguyen Van Que, Vice Chairman of the provincial People's Committee, awards the Minister of Culture, Sports, and Tourism's Certificate recognizing Hai Duong provincial puppetry as part of the national intangible cultural heritage to water puppet troupes

Thanh Hai water puppet troupe performs the anecdote of King Le returning the precious sword



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