Bach Ma Temple Festival Opening Ceremony - National Intangible Cultural Heritage

Huy Thu• March 1, 2023 00:07

(Baonghean.vn)- On the night of February 28, Thanh Chuong district solemnly held the opening ceremony of Bach Ma Temple Festival, announcing the decision to recognize Bach Ma Temple Festival as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Delegates attending the ceremony. Photo: Contributor

Attending the ceremony were comrades Nong Quoc Thanh - Deputy Director of the Department of Heritage, Ministry of Culture - Sports and Tourism; Nguyen Nam Dinh - Member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee, Permanent Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Council; Bui Dinh Long - Member of the Provincial Party Committee, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; Tran Thi My Hanh - Member of the Provincial Party Committee, Director of the Department of Culture - Sports, representatives of provincial departments and branches, leaders of Thanh Chuong district, representatives of neighboring districts, Thanh Chuong Association of Southern provinces and a large number of people inside and outside the district.

Art performance at the opening ceremony. Photo: Contributor

Thousands of people excitedly flock to Bach Ma Temple Festival 2023. Photo: Huy Thu

Bach Ma Temple in Vo Liet commune was built during the Le Dynasty, worshiping the famous general Phan Da - who had great merit in the cause of driving out the Ming army to liberate the country in the 15th century, and was posthumously honored as "The Great Emperor Bach Ma, the supreme blessing god".

The temple consists of three gates, ceremonial gate, left and right wings, lower, middle and upper halls with unique architecture and sophisticated sculptures. It is one of the four most beautiful and sacred temples in Nghe An "First Con, second Qua, third Bach Ma, fourth Chieu Trung".

The Vietnamese feudal dynasties listed the temple as an “international and national ritual” and granted more than 100 royal decrees. The temple was recognized by the State as a Historical, Cultural and Architectural Monument in 1994.

Sacred procession of the gods in Bach Ma Temple Festival 2023. Photo: Huy Thu

According to ancient custom, Bach Ma Temple Festival is usually held on the 13th day of the sixth lunar month. During the years 1945 - 1994, due to historical conditions, the festival was organized by the locality with simple ceremonies.

After the temple was ranked as a national monument in 1994, the people of Vo Liet commune restored the festival with all the rituals as before and it is held on the 9th and 10th of the second lunar month every year.

Leaders of the Department of Heritage, Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and provincial leaders presented the decision to certify Bach Ma Temple Festival as a national intangible cultural heritage to local leaders. Photo: Huy Thu

With its typical values, Bach Ma Temple Festival was included in the List of National Intangible Cultural Heritage by the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism according to Decision No. 2969/QD-BVHTTDL dated August 27, 2019.

At the ceremony, Comrade Nong Quoc Thanh - Deputy Director of the Department of Heritage, Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism presented the decision to certify Bach Ma Temple Festival as a national intangible cultural heritage.

Comrade Trinh Van Nha - Chairman of Thanh Chuong District People's Committee beats the drum to open Bach Ma Temple Festival 2023. Photo: Huy Thu

After 2 years due to complicated epidemic conditions, Bach Ma Temple Festival was organized in a shortened format. This year, in the atmosphere of the whole country recovering economic and social activities, Bach Ma Temple Festival was organized again with many rich activities.

The solemn and sacred ceremony includes the opening ceremony, the procession of the gods, the incense offering ceremony, the great sacrifice ceremony, the thanksgiving ceremony... The festival part is lively and attractive, in addition to sports tournaments, wrestling competitions, folk games of pot smashing, tug of war, there are also poetry festivals, elegant youth competitions...

At the festival, there is also an exhibition space for images of the Nghe Tinh Soviet Museum and a booth introducing Thanh Chuong's agricultural products and specialties.

Unique wrestling competition at Bach Ma Temple Festival. Photo: Huy Thu

Bach Ma Temple Festival represents the morality of "remembering the source when drinking water" and "remembering the person who planted the tree when eating fruit" passed down from generation to generation.

The annual Bach Ma Temple Festival is an opportunity for generations, especially the young generation, to review their ancestors' tradition of fighting foreign invaders, to remember and honor the famous General Phan Da who sacrificed for his homeland and country, and at the same time demonstrate the local behavior, lifestyle, customs and practices, and strengthen the spirit of community solidarity.

The "Elegant Female Student" contest is an attractive content in the Bach Ma Temple Festival program. Photo: Huy Thu

Coming to Bach Ma Temple Festival to commemorate the merits of ancestors, visitors not only immerse themselves in the sacred festival space, unique folk games, but also admire the beautiful landscape, enjoy famous specialties of Nghe An countryside.