Traditional Sinh wrestling festival in Hue to be held next year

hua Thien-Hue (VNA) – The traditional Sinh wrestling festival in Hue will be held
next year on a new stage in an effort to modernise the event and preserve the
festival’s traditional venue, which is now in ruins.

The organising committee of the festival said the annual festival will no longer
take place in front yard of the Lai An village’s pavilion, where it has been
staged for hundreds of years.

The province on February 23 held the wrestling festival on a stage temporarily set
up on a paddy field in Lai An village, which is located in Phu Vang district in
Thua Thien-Hue province.

Nguyen Van Giao, chairman of the district’s Phu Mau commune, said a bigger stage
was needed.

“The festival is for everyone, but the yard is too small. It is only wide enough
for a few hundred people,” said Pham Tien Dung, director of the province’s
Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

Some residents oppose the idea, however, including Phan Trach Bao, the head of Lai
An village.

Hue researcher Trieu Nguyen, chairman of the province’s Folklore Art
Association, said the wrestling event, which is a traditional game, could become a
boxing performance with a large stage and stadium.

“This causes a loss of the tradition features,” he said.

The event, held annually on the 10 th day of the Lunar New Year, requires no
stage or stadium. Wresters compete on a bare yard with shouting crowds encircling
the area.

The village’s Committee of Old-aged People on February 23 had a ritual ceremony
to worship the “wrestling saint”, refusing to move the procession to the
stage.

The village is also famous for its traditional ritual paintings, known as Sinh
village paintings, which are printed on carved wooden blocks. The handicraft
paintings are used as part of the ritual ceremonies.-Enditem