Exciting rice cooking contest in Hanoi
VOV.VN - Thi Cam villagers in Xuan Phuong commune of Hanoi’s Tu Liem district gathered at the communal house on the 8th day of the first lunar month for the traditional rice cooking contest.
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The festival commemorates Phan Tay Nhac, General of the 18th Hung King. Legend has it that one day Nhac led his guerrilla soldiers past Thi Cam village to chase away Chinese Shu invaders. Local villagers asked him to join the force. |
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The General decided to host a rice cooking contest to select a good chef. After the chef died, he was honoured as the village’s god. |
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During the rice cooking contest, competitors in four groups have to husk rice, fetch water, make fire, and cook rice. A jury comprised of respected village chiefs mark and select the winners of the contest. |
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Making fire is one of the exciting parts of the contest |
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Each group assigns four men to make fire |
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The contest began at 11am |
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They tried to complete the contest in the shortest time |
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After making fire,
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they began to grind grains |
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They washed rice |
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Women skilfully cooked rice |
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The rice pots were kept surrounded by burning straw |
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The straw made white smoke spread everywhere |
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The contest lasted about one hour |
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The organizing board began to mark points |
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Four rice pots were found in burning straw |
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The pots were submitted to the jury |
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After the contest, villagers tasted the rice and prayed for a happy and peaceful new year |
