Thousands of people excitedly go to the Van Temple - Cua Rao festival

Attending the opening ceremony were leaders of the Department of Culture and Sports, the Provincial Ethnic Committee, Tuong Duong district, people from all over the district and tourists from near and far.

Art performance to celebrate the opening ceremony of the Van Temple - Cua Rao Festival. Photo: Cong Kien

Van - Cua Rao Temple is located at the river junction in Xa Luong commune (Tuong Duong). The festival is an occasion to commemorate the merits of Doan Nhu Hai - a general of the Tran Dynasty who defeated the Ai Lao invaders and kept the border peaceful. In a fierce battle near the river junction in 1335, Doan Nhu Hai and many soldiers bravely commanded, fought and heroically sacrificed themselves.

Mr. Nguyen Van Hai - Chairman of Tuong Duong District People's Committee beats the drum to open the festival. Photo: Dang Cuong

Procession. Photo: Cong Kien

To commemorate the merits of the Governor and the soldiers of the Tran Dynasty, the people built a temple at the confluence of the Nam Non and Nam Mo rivers to form the poetic Lam River - a cultural symbol of Nghe An. Van-Cua Rao Temple also worships the Three Holy Mothers, recognized by the Provincial People's Committee as a Historical - Cultural Relic in 2009.

Great ceremony, praying for national peace and prosperity. Photo: Dang Cuong

Happy throwing ball festival. Photo: Cong Kien

This year's Van - Cua Rao Temple Festival took place solemnly and sacredly with the opening ceremony, proclamation, procession, great sacrifice and thanksgiving ceremony. The festival took place vibrantly with cultural and artistic exchange activities, releasing flower lanterns and sports, folk games imbued with regional cultural identity (stick pushing, gong fighting, crossbow shooting, con throwing), visiting traditional houses of ethnic groups and enjoying special dishes.

Tourists were excited by the performance of the Mong flute at the traditional house of ethnic culture. Photo: Dang Cuong