Provincial leaders attend grand prayer for national peace and safe people in Hoa Lu

Attending the event were Secretary of the provincial Party Committee Nguyen Thi Thu Ha and Chairman of the provincial People's Committee Pham Quang Ngoc.

Most Venerable Thich Thanh Nhieu, Standing Vice Chairman of the Executive Council of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha; members of the Executive Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS)'s Chapter in Ninh Binh; and representatives of provincial departments, sectors and agencies, and local people were also present at the prayer.

The prayer, which is held annually, aims to pay tribute to ancestors, heroic martyrs and war invalids who sacrificed their bone and blood to safeguard the country's independence and freedom.

This is the first traditional ritual of the Hoa Lu festival. It used to be a national ritual and chaired by the King to pray for the whole country's peace and prosperity as well as to foster the close relationship between the court and people.

Following commemorative ceremonials, participants offered incense and released flower garlands on Sao Khe river to pray for a year of favourable weather without natural disasters and diseases. 

Translated by Nguyen Thuy