Nine-Room Temple Festival - Contributing to promoting Que Phong tourism potential

(Baonghean) - Comrade Lu Dinh Thi - Chairman of Que Phong District People's Committee talked with Nghe An Newspaper reporter about the Nine-Room Temple Festival.

Every year, at the beginning of Spring, the Nine-Chamber Temple Festival is held by Que Phong district to pay tribute to and commemorate the contributions of Tao Lo - the founder of the Muong village. On this occasion, Nghe An Newspaper reporter had an interview with Mr. Lu Dinh Thi, Chairman of Que Phong District People's Committee about the festival imbued with the identity of the Western Nghe An region.

Reporter: Could you tell us the meaning of the Nine-Room Temple Festival?

Mr. Lu Dinh Thi:For every Thai person in the Northwest highlands of Nghe An, the Muong Ton land of Que Phong region and a part of Quy Chau district, the Nine-Garden Temple and the Nine-Garden Temple Festival are an indispensable part of sacred beliefs. Due to many historical events, over a long period of time, the Nine-Garden Temple was neglected, degraded and became a ruin, and the festival was also interrupted.

Nine-chamber Temple Festival. Photo: Xuan Thong

In 2004, the People's Committee of Que Phong district decided to start the restoration of the Nine-chamber Temple, in order to preserve, inherit and promote the traditional values ​​of "When drinking water, remember its source", contributing to preserving and promoting the cultural identity of the Thai ethnic group in the Northwest of Nghe An. Since 2006, the Nine-chamber Temple Festival has been held again on a grand scale. The festival takes place in the middle of the second lunar month every year. And this year 2012 is the 7th consecutive year the festival has been held.

The organization of the Nine-Chamber Temple Festival revives the traditions and unique cultural products of the Thai people in the Western Nghe An region. It is an opportunity for people from the 9 ancient Muongs to make a pilgrimage, meet, exchange, join hands with friends, and strengthen solidarity among ethnic groups. At the same time, it is also an opportunity for the 9 Muongs to display and introduce the cultural beauty of traditional handicrafts and local fine arts. Thereby, it paves the way for the economic and social development of the district.

Reporter: So what's new about this year's festival compared to previous years?

Mr. Lu Dinh Thi:This year's Nine-Chain Temple Festival takes place from March 6 to March 8, 2012 (February 14 to February 16 of the lunar calendar), with many activities organized. The ceremony includes the opening ceremony, the Yet cao ceremony (Khây quan ceremony), the buffalo bathing ceremony and the procession ceremony (ap Quái and ton Đăm-ton Then), the buffalo slaughtering ceremony (phan Quái ceremony), the great sacrifice ceremony (xò Thế ceremony, xo Đăm ceremony), the opening ceremony and the thanksgiving ceremony (chả ơn - Thảo quan ceremony). The festival includes camp competition activities with the identity of ancient Thai stilt houses; folk games such as bamboo jumping, throwing con; banh chung wrapping contest, cooking sticky rice, culinary contest of communes and towns; artistic activities including drum, gong, cymbal, carving and singing, Nhuôn dou dac, art competition, beauty contest; Besides, there are traditional sports such as cockfighting, throwing con, tug of war, crossbow shooting, stick pushing, chess, stilt walking...

The new point of this year's festival is that the activities will be more extensive and popular with more content so that everyone can participate when coming to the festival. The procession is carefully prepared so that everyone can feel more deeply about the spiritual culture. Regarding the organization, the Organizing Committee will completely prohibit all vehicles from going up the mountain and to the temple. These vehicles will be arranged in the outer parking lots to avoid disorder and not leave good impressions in the hearts of visitors...

Reporter: How does the successful organization of the Nine-Room Temple Festival help promote tourism in Que Phong?

Mr. Lu Dinh Thi:Coming to the Nine-Chamber Temple Festival, not only do visitors and friends from near and far know about the land and people of Que Phong with a history of thousands of years and a rich cultural identity, but they also know about Que Phong with majestic landscapes such as: the Huoi Ho and Con Cam ranges connecting to the Pu Canh Quai range with the Pha Ca Tun peak nearly 2,500 meters high, covered in clouds all year round; the Nam Quang River with its poetic beauty and clear blue water; limestone caves with famous beauty such as Tham Me Mon, Tham Binh, Tham Nam, Tham Chang in the Quang Phong and Cam Muon areas; Four large waterfalls: Ta Pang waterfall, 9-storey waterfall, Sao Va waterfall (Hanh Dich) and Huu Van waterfall (Huu Van); The primeval forests of Pu Huong Nature Reserve... In addition, there are a variety of specialties and cuisine such as cool fish, catfish, eel, porcupine, wild boar, mang, Cam Muon duck, Tri Le black chicken, young pig, bamboo rice, rice wine made from purple sticky rice... The festival is an opportunity for Que Phong to promote this attractive tourism potential.

At the festival, many beautiful traditional handicraft stalls were introduced and displayed. Through the assessment and evaluation of visitors, the district hopes to exploit more markets to consume brocade products. At the same time, the district will create conditions for businesses and labor export agents to organize job introductions, helping workers and businesses have the opportunity to exchange.

General (Implementation)