Making news

Traditional tug-of-war game handed down as heritage


Two competing teams pull some bamboo, which runs through a hole on a big wooden pillar. The pillar stands firmly on the ground. The athletes lean their feet against wooden pillar to have more power to pull the bamboo back toward their team's side. Photo: VNA
An ancient form of tug of war is still organised at the Tran Vu Temple Festival on the third day of the third lunar month in Thach Ban ward, Long Bien district, Hanoi.

Legend has it that during a serious drought, only one of 12 wells in Ngọc Tri village still contained water.

Men from Cho hamlet went to collect water from the well but were stopped by men from Dia hamlet. At that time they used bamboo twine to carry the water home.

When a fight for the precious resource broke out, both sides were afraid of spilling the water, so they sat down and battled to pull the water from each other, some even clinging on to the buckets for dear life.

When the drought was over, elders in the village initiated the game as a reflection of the fight at the village festival in order to wish for a better weather, a bumper crop and a prosperous life.

The event has been recognised as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.

The festival at Tran Vu Temple includes a ceremony and the tug of war to express locals’ respect for the gods and their desire for a peaceful life.
VNS/VNA

top