Experiencing the thrill of blindfolded clay pot smashing at the spring festival

For generations, folk games have been an integral part of traditional festivals in the Ancestral Land. While the ceremony features sacred rituals to honor and express gratitude to the ancestors, the festival itself is even more vibrant and lively with cultural performances and unique folk games. Here, visitors are immersed in a rich cultural and spiritual atmosphere while also enjoying traditional folk games. Over time, the blindfolded clay pot smashing game has remained popular, preserving its cultural significance and fostering intergenerational connections.

Blindfolded clay pot smashing is a signature folk game at the Lang Suong Temple Festival.

As one of the three major festivals of the Ancestral Land-alongside the Hung King Temple Festival in Viet Tri City and the Au Co Temple Festival in Ha Hoa District-the Lang Suong Temple Festival takes place annually on the 14th and 15th days of the first lunar month to honor the contributions of Duc Thanh Tan, his family, and two generals. Among the festival’s highlights, the blindfolded pot-smashing game is always a favorite among visitors. The festival grounds echoed with cheers and laughter as eager participants awaited their turn to test their luck and skill.

Experiencing the pot-smashing game for the first time, 53-year-old Nguyen Thi Minh, a tourist from Viet Tri, was thrilled. With her eyes covered by a bright red cloth, Ms. Minh carefully took each step forward, guided by the excited shouts of the crowd. The distance from the starting line to the pot-breaking point was about 3 meters-not far, yet challenging enough to test the players' sense of direction.

People of all ages participated in the game at the Hung King Festival, which re-enacts traditional rice-planting practices in Viet Tri City.

Ms. Minh eagerly shared, 'This game looks easy but is actually quite challenging. The main difficulty lies in the loss of spatial awareness when blindfolded. Even with enthusiastic guidance from the crowd, not everyone can find the right position to break the clay pot. I was lucky to hit it, but my strike was too weak to break it. Although I didn’t win a prize, I was very happy because the true joy came from reliving a childhood memory, immersing myself in the festival’s lively atmosphere, and sharing laughter with everyone.

Alongside other folk games like blindfolded duck catching and blindfolded drum beating, blindfolded pot smashing remains a beloved tradition at various festivals across the country. It is featured in major and local festivals alike, including the Hung King Temple Festival, the Hung King Festival reenacting traditional rice planting, the Hung Lo Communal House Festival in Viet Tri City, the Ngu Giap Communal House Festival in Man Lan Commune, Thanh Ba District, and the Vinh Xa Communal House Festival in Ha Giap Commune, Phu Ninh District.

Regardless of location, this folk game remains a cherished cultural tradition, valued not only for its entertainment but also for its deep reflection of Vietnamese heritage and traditions. Deeply rooted in traditional customs and practices, this game serves as a meaningful way to express gratitude and respect for ancestors. It also provides younger generations with an opportunity to understand and uphold cherished cultural values.

By taking part in this game, participants not only experience joy and improve their dexterity and judgment but also strengthen community bonds, foster unity, and nurture faith in positivity.

Thuy Phuong