Opening of the 2017 Mai King Festival

(Baonghean.vn) - On the morning of February 10 (January 14, Dinh Dau year 2017), at the tomb yard of King Mai, Van Dien commune,The Party Committee and people of Nam Dan district solemnly held the incense offering ceremony to commemorate and open the 2017 King Mai Temple Festival.

The procession from King Mai Temple in Nam Dan town to King Mai's tomb in Van Dien commune (Nam Dan). Photo: Thanh Le.

For the people of Nam Dan, the Mai King Festival - a unique cultural festival has become a spiritual tradition so that everyone can wholeheartedly remember the merits of Mai King and his generals and soldiers, and at the same time review the heroic spirit and indomitable spirit of the Hoan Chau uprising that defeated the Tang invaders and built the independent Van An country within 10 years (from 713 to 722).

The Great Sacrifice Ceremony - one of the sacred and important rituals of the Mai King Temple Festival. Photo: Thanh Le.

King Mai's real name is Mai Thuc Loan, originally from Mai Phu village (now Mai Phu commune, Loc Ha district, Ha Tinh province), born, raised and matured in Ngoc Trung village, Dong Liet commune (now Nam Thai commune, Nam Dan district, Nghe An province).

He lost his parents early and had to work as a servant since he was young. When Mai Thuc Loan grew up, the Tang Dynasty ruled our country and they established the custom of paying tribute, oppressing the people extremely heavily; it is known that countless people had to lose their lives carrying tribute because of hunger and thirst, and beatings from the escorting mandarins.

Delegates and a large number of people and tourists from all over the world attended the festival. Photo: Thanh Le

Understanding the suffering and indignation of the people who lost their country, Mai Thuc Loan bravely stood up and led the people to rise up and start an uprising in Dun Son, which then exploded and spread throughout the country, determined to wipe out the invaders from the country. In 713, Mai Thuc Loan was honored by the people as King and proclaimed himself Emperor, and the Van An Dynasty was born.

Comrade Nguyen Hong Son - Vice Chairman of Nam Dan District People's Committee read the opening speech of the 2017 Mai King Festival. Photo: Thanh Le.

Not long after the Van An Dynasty was established, the Tang Dynasty sent troops to invade our country. Therefore, the enemy was strong. At that time, Mai Hac De fell seriously ill and passed away. Mai Thieu De and his generals were not strong enough to maintain the victory for long, so they were eventually dominated by the Northern enemy again.

Dragon and lion dance at the opening ceremony of the 2017 Mai King Temple Festival. Photo: Thanh Le.

However, 10 years of independence have an extremely great significance for our people. The Hoan Chau uprising is considered one of the largest-scale uprisings with the most profound influence compared to the uprisings against the Northern domination.

To commemorate the merits of King Mai and his generals, people in many provinces and cities across the country built monuments, temples and shrines.

Comrade Dinh Xuan Que - Chairman of Nam Dan District People's Committee beats the drum to open the festival. Photo: Thanh Le.

Comrade Nguyen Hong Son - Vice Chairman of Nam Dan District People's Committee said: Particularly in Nam Dan - the birthplace and growing up of King Mai, where the uprising broke out and also the place where King Mai's grave and King Mai's mother are located... Every year, starting from the 13th to the 15th of the first lunar month, the King Mai Temple Festival is solemnly held to commemorate the merits of King Mai and his generals and soldiers and to review the heroic spirit of the Hoan Chau uprising that defeated the Northern invaders and built the independent Van An state. At the same time, it educates the people, especially the young generation, about the good traditions of the nation's construction and defense, in order to increase national pride and love for the homeland and country.

Crowds of people and tourists from all over the world burn incense to commemorate King Mai Thuc Loan. Photo: Thanh Le.

This is also an opportunity for Nam Dan district to welcome tourists to learn, visit and enjoy cultural values ​​through cultural activities imbued with the identity of the land of talented people such as the water procession ceremony, the opening ceremony, the proclamation ceremony, the incense offering ceremony in memory of King Mai, the great ceremony, the thanksgiving ceremony, the flower lantern releasing ceremony... or participate in folk games such as chess, swing, tug of war, shuttlecock kicking, wrestling, volleyball, watching the performance of folk songs praising the merits of King Mai.

The highlight of this year's festival is the Lantern Festival to commemorate the merits of King Mai, pray for national peace and prosperity; Nam Dan develops, and every family is warm and prosperous, held on the evening of January 14./.

Thanh Le - My Nga