A mud ball wrestling festival was recently held in Van village in Viet Yen District of Bac Giang Province, showing the desire of farmers for a year of good weather and bumper harvests.
![Gripping mud ball wrestling festival of Bac Giang gripping mud ball wrestling festival of bac giang](https://vir.com.vn/stores/news_dataimages/hung/052018/30/14/gripping-mud-ball-wrestling-festival-of-bac-giang.jpg) |
The festival traces its origins to about the 4th or 5th century, it has been restored since 2000. The highlight of the festival is a competition to grasp a large mud ball with a diameter of 35cm and weighing approximately 20kg. |
![Gripping mud ball wrestling festival of Bac Giang gripping mud ball wrestling festival of bac giang](https://vir.com.vn/stores/news_dataimages/hung/052018/30/14/gripping-mud-ball-wrestling-festival-of-bac-giang_1.jpg) |
The game is played between sixteen healthy young men divided into 2 teams. They try to keep hold of the ball on muddy ground. Before the competition, the men each drink 3 bowls of wine and eat fruit such as watermelon, mango, dragon fruit, and lychee. |
![Gripping mud ball wrestling festival of Bac Giang gripping mud ball wrestling festival of bac giang](https://vir.com.vn/stores/news_dataimages/hung/052018/30/14/gripping-mud-ball-wrestling-festival-of-bac-giang_2.jpg) |
The game is played between sixteen healthy young men divided into 2 teams. They try to keep hold of the ball on muddy ground. Before the competition, the men each drink 3 bowls of wine and eat fruit such as watermelon, mango, dragon fruit, and lychee. |
![Gripping mud ball wrestling festival of Bac Giang gripping mud ball wrestling festival of bac giang](https://vir.com.vn/stores/news_dataimages/hung/052018/30/14/gripping-mud-ball-wrestling-festival-of-bac-giang_3.jpg) |
Ahead of the competition, each team sends their strongest men to wrestle for the right to kick off the match. |
![Gripping mud ball wrestling festival of Bac Giang gripping mud ball wrestling festival of bac giang](https://vir.com.vn/stores/news_dataimages/hung/052018/30/14/gripping-mud-ball-wrestling-festival-of-bac-giang_4.jpg) |
During the competition, the ball is brought from east to west following the sunrise and sunset. Grabbing hold of the ball represents catching the sun needed for good crops. |
![Gripping mud ball wrestling festival of Bac Giang gripping mud ball wrestling festival of bac giang](https://vir.com.vn/stores/news_dataimages/hung/052018/30/14/gripping-mud-ball-wrestling-festival-of-bac-giang_5.jpg) |
There are 2 holes at either end of the pitch to push the ball into, each hole is 1 meter deep and 0.5 meters wide. |
![Gripping mud ball wrestling festival of Bac Giang gripping mud ball wrestling festival of bac giang](https://vir.com.vn/stores/news_dataimages/hung/052018/30/14/gripping-mud-ball-wrestling-festival-of-bac-giang_6.jpg) |
Following traditions, each time the ball is pushed down the hole, it symbolizes a bumper harvest and happy life for the local people. |
![Gripping mud ball wrestling festival of Bac Giang gripping mud ball wrestling festival of bac giang](https://vir.com.vn/stores/news_dataimages/hung/052018/30/14/gripping-mud-ball-wrestling-festival-of-bac-giang_7.jpg) |
Following traditions, each time the ball is pushed down the hole, it symbolizes a bumper harvest and happy life for the local people. |
![Gripping mud ball wrestling festival of Bac Giang gripping mud ball wrestling festival of bac giang](https://vir.com.vn/stores/news_dataimages/hung/052018/30/14/gripping-mud-ball-wrestling-festival-of-bac-giang_8.jpg) |
When a man grasps the ball, other members of his team do their best to push the ball into the hole. |
![Gripping mud ball wrestling festival of Bac Giang gripping mud ball wrestling festival of bac giang](https://vir.com.vn/stores/news_dataimages/hung/052018/30/14/gripping-mud-ball-wrestling-festival-of-bac-giang_9.jpg) |
Pushing the ball into the hole is not easy on the wet and muddy pitch. |
![Gripping mud ball wrestling festival of Bac Giang gripping mud ball wrestling festival of bac giang](https://vir.com.vn/stores/news_dataimages/hung/052018/30/14/gripping-mud-ball-wrestling-festival-of-bac-giang_10.jpg) |
Gripping mud ball wrestling festival of Bac Giang |
![Gripping mud ball wrestling festival of Bac Giang gripping mud ball wrestling festival of bac giang](https://vir.com.vn/stores/news_dataimages/hung/052018/30/14/gripping-mud-ball-wrestling-festival-of-bac-giang_11.jpg) |
Gripping mud ball wrestling festival of Bac Giang |
![Gripping mud ball wrestling festival of Bac Giang gripping mud ball wrestling festival of bac giang](https://vir.com.vn/stores/news_dataimages/hung/052018/30/14/gripping-mud-ball-wrestling-festival-of-bac-giang_12.jpg) |
Gripping mud ball wrestling festival of Bac Giang |
VOV