Nhan Dan/VNA- The Hue Festival 2008 with theme “Cultural Heritage with Integration and Development” to take place over nine days from June 3-11, promises to attract tourists through its special folk festivals.

This year’s festival will have the participation of foreign art troupes in folk games, bringing a new feature to the great event.

The crowning ceremony of Emperor Quang Trung will be recreated for the first time at Ban Mountain with the participation of hundreds of artists and martial artists.

The Nam Giao and Xa Tac rituals will also be revived by 1,100 artists at special performances as part of the Hue Festival 2008 in central Thua Thien-Hue province.

The Nam Giao ritual performance on June 4 will see 750 artists revive the Nguyen dynasty ritual that prays for a peaceful country and a prosperous people, Director of the Hue Royal Traditional Arts Theatre Tuan Hai said.

The Xa Tac ritual on June 10 will feature 350 artists performing a ritual of sovereignty offerings to the God of Earth and the God of Cereals to wish for favourable weather and bumper crops.

The director assured that the preparations for the two rituals have been completed.

Hue Festival 2008 will the biggest so far with around 40 art programmes from 21 countries registered to date. The festival will see various kinds of arts such as concerts, circus, installation art imbued with cultural idientities of countries.

Sponsorship of over VND 10 billion has been pledged to the Hue Festival so far.