Thay Pagoda Festival (Lễ hội Chùa Thầy)

Lễ hội Chùa Thầy
Bảo tàng Hà Tây, Đường 430,
Thị Xã Hà Đông, Tỉnh Hà Tây,
Việt Nam
Phone: 84 (0) 34 824713

The Thầy Pagoda Festival focuses on the worship of Buddhist master Từ Ðạo Hạnh, a Buddhist monk who became a royal adviser and is credited with the creation of Vietnamese water puppetry. The festival is held every year from the 5th to the 7th of the third lunar month (March), the main celebration being held on the 7th. The festival begins with a ceremony to worship the Buddha and a religious performance accompanied by traditional music. Numerous traditional games are played during the festival, but best-known of all the activities is the traditional water puppet show given on Long Trì pond, in front of the Thuỷ Ðình Temple.