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According to historical records, during the Nguyen Dynasty, on special occasions each year, localities throughout the country prepared the finest and most carefully selected culinary products and delicacies to offer to the royal court. Today, in the warm atmosphere of the days leading up to the Lunar New Year, descendants are busy preparing offerings in the same way as in the past, expressing the gratitude of Hue artisans to their ancestors.
Visiting the ancient capital of Hue in the days leading up to Tet (Lunar New Year), anyone can feel the traditional colors, the solemnity, and the sacredness that permeates the entire vast space.
According to Mr. Nguyen Phuoc Hai Trung, Deputy Director of the Hue Ancient Citadel Conservation Center, the people of Hue are recreating this ritual to evoke history and create a beautiful image of traditional customs and ceremonies. This cultural aspect also contributes to promoting the image of the people of Hue and Hue's specialties.
The ceremony was conducted solemnly in accordance with ancient customs. The event included an opening ceremony and a procession with traditional colors. The procession passed through the following locations in order: Le Huan Street, August 23rd Street, Ngo Mon Gate, and The Mieu Temple.
The rituals were recreated exactly as they were in history, including the opening ceremony, the procession, and the offering ceremony. At the opening ceremony, the Venerable Master, holding the ceremonial flag, gave the command for the procession to begin. The procession consisted of a total of 68 people, dressed in court attire, long robes, carrying parasols, and adorned with colorful flags and flowers.
The procession, carrying trays of offerings, moved in an orderly fashion from Le Huan Street, turning left onto August 23rd Street, then through Ngo Mon Gate, Huu Duc Mon Gate, the main gate of The Mieu Temple, passing through Tuan Liet Gate next to Hien Lam Cac, and finally entering the courtyard of The Mieu Temple. Two imperial guards were waiting at The Mieu Temple, guiding the procession to arrange the offerings on the altar in the courtyard for incense burning and receiving the offerings to present to the king.
The procession passed through many tree-lined streets in Hue.
The ceremony was conducted solemnly in accordance with ancient customs.
The procession consisted of a total of 68 people.
The products and specialties were carefully selected and evaluated by the organizing committee before being presented to the royal palace. Famous flavors from 36 communes and wards of Hue city have gathered here, such as: Kim Long ginger jam; Royal ginseng (An Dong ward); red artichoke jam (Phu Thanh commune); various types of fermented shrimp, dried shrimp, and fish sauce (Xuan Phu ward); various types of spring rolls and sausages (Vy Da ward)... These are all famous products, bearing the distinctive flavors of the ancient capital.
The offerings were presented at the Thế Miếu, the temple dedicated to the kings of the Nguyễn dynasty.
The Spring Incense Offering Procession is the main event in the program.Local product display areaLasting for 7 days, from January 23rd to 29th, 2022 (corresponding to the 21st to 27th days of the 12th lunar month of the Year of the Ox), the ceremony creates a beautiful image of Hue's customs and traditions, contributing to the promotion of the people and specialties of Hue.
