ceremony proper as drums and gongs sound the departure. At the late evening, after a long procession in the downtown area and through the Truong An borough, the presider then leaves the palanquin as it arrives at the grounds and after climbing the stairs leading up to the first level, he washes his hands in purification before the ceremony begins in the second level with the presentations of the pre-sacrificed animals (a pig, goat and water buffalo, respectively), which were sacrified the day before in a prior ceremony, together with the wine, golden silk and gem offerings contributed by citizens of the province, which are then carried by attendants to the main altars at the third level to be offered to the gods of the heavens. At that point the presider prays to the gods of Heaven and Earth in the name of the people of the nation, welcoming them to the ceremony and asking them to bless the conduct of the sacred rites. As the presider arrives with the entourage at the third level while an Nhã nhạc orchestra plays in the background, the ceremony proper begins. First, the silk and gem offerings given by citizens are placed in the altar, followed by the animals, then the cup of wine and other items of importance. As the wine is offered, the military dance My Thang Chi Chuong, honoring the memory of the military heroes of the state in times past, is performed in view of the general public watching at the third level. After which, drums announce the moment as the presiding guest prays in the altar in the name of the people of the city, province and the whole nation of Vietnam for her peace, prosperity and progress, and for good weather and favorable harvests in the next two years. A civil dance then follows by the same dancers who performed earlier, and after this the presider partakes of the offered wine and animal meat for himself, representing the duties of the old Emperors who once performed the sacred rites for many centuries. The symbolic cleaning of the main altars then follows, as many of the offerings and the prayer paper are removed from the altars for ritual burning, while the second level altar remains decked for the later veneration of the public. As the presider departs the main altar, he then proceeds down to the second level