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)
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.
Source: VNA
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