Nation's legendary father and mother commemorated

A ceremony was held on April 24 at the Special National Historical Relic Site of Hung Kings Temple in the northern province of Phu Tho to offer incense to the nation’s legendary father and mother Lac Long Quan and Au Co.

The incense offering ceremony to the nation’s legendary father Lac Long Quan (Credit: nhandan)

The ceremony was part of activities to celebrate the 2015 Hung Kings Temple Festival which takes place from April 23 to 28.

The worship reflected the Vietnamese people’s tradition of paying respect and expressing profound gratitude to national father Lac Long Quan and mother Au Co who laid the foundation for the Vietnamese nation.

The incense offering ceremony offered an opportunity for Vietnamese people to pray for a harmonious nation and happy people.

The event is also expected to educate Vietnamese people, especially young generations, on the national solidarity and patriotic spirit, contributing to the cause of national construction and defence.

Legend has it that Lac Long Quan married Au Co who then gave birth to a pouch containing one hundred eggs which soon hatched into one hundred sons.

After that, Lac Long Quan went to the coast with 50 children while Au Co went to the moutains with the others. The oldest son was crowned as the first Hung King who named the country and set up the capital in Phong Chau (now Viet Tri city, Phu Tho province), starting the 18 reigns of Hung Kings.

(Source: nhandan.org.vn)