Cuong Temple Festival - an attractive spiritual tourist destination

(Baonghean) - These days, tourists from all over the world return to the land of Hoan Chau, where a part of the nation's origin is preserved - the temple of Thuc An Duong Vuong on Mo Da mountain (Dien An commune, Dien Chau district). The festival opens on March 11 (February 14 of the lunar calendar) and lasts for 4 days with many activities imbued with the local cultural identity, attracting a large number of local people and visitors from all over the world to participate.

A large number of tourists come to Cuong Temple Festival. Photo: THU Huong

Cuong Temple is a beautiful, solid architectural work, suitable for natural conditions, surrounded by many green trees. The temple has a Tam-shaped architecture, including a three-door gate, three upper, middle and lower halls.

Remember, in 1995, a crane flew back to Cuong temple, on the opening day of the temple festival; on the occasion of the festival in 1996, a dead whale washed up on Cua Hien beach. People believe that: The crane returning is the incarnation of Princess My Chau; the dead whale washing up on the beach is proof of the tragic suicide of An Duong Vuong.

These events make Cuong Temple even more mysterious and sacred, attracting people from near and far to come and offer incense to pray for national peace and prosperity, family prosperity and happiness. Every month, on the first and fifteenth of the lunar month, the people of Dien Chau prepare offerings with all their hearts to present to King An Duong Vuong and light the incense.

During the festival days (from the 13th to the 16th of the lunar calendar) around the area at the foot of Mo Da Mountain, the festival grounds attract a large number of people and tourists from all over to attend. The ceremony of Cuong Temple Festival includes: opening ceremony, middle ceremony, giving ceremony, grand ceremony and thanksgiving ceremony. In addition, there is also a standing ceremony. When participating in the ceremony, the members of the ceremony committee wear ceremonial costumes according to regulations.

Lion dance at Cuong Temple Festival. Photo: THU Huong

The most special part is the procession from the Cao family church and Xuan Ai communal house to Cuong temple, starting early in the morning of February 15. Leading the procession are the flag ceremonies of both the communal house and church, the music band, followed by the King's palanquin, then the palanquin of Princess My Chau, and then the palanquin of General Cao Lo. When the palanquin arrives at the temple, the main gate of the three-door gate will be opened to let the palanquin procession in. The palanquin will be placed in the worshiping yard to prepare for the ceremony.

After the solemn and respectful ceremony, the festival with many unique activities takes place around the foot of Mo Da mountain with many traditional folk games such as: throwing con, swing, wrestling, cockfighting, crossbow shooting, walking on the bridge, chess, card chess... Cultural exchange activities of cultural villages, ca tru clubs, folk songs, vi giam... Every year, the Cuong Temple Festival has a cockfighting game with fighting cocks brought by people from everywhere. Then the human chess competition is not only between communes in the district competing with each other like other sports games, but also has the participation of delegations from other districts in the province.

Ca tru exchange performance between units of Dien Chau district. Photo: Sach Nguyen.

It is known that in 2017, the Cuong temple space was invested in renovation and embellishment. Mr. Tran Sy Hong - Deputy Head of the Department of Culture and Information of Dien Chau district said: "With the attention of the District Party Committee, People's Council, People's Committee, the festival ground was upgraded and repaired promptly, the power system was also ensured. Competitions such as: High school student singing, elegant youth this year were also included, adding to the joyful atmosphere of the festival.

Previously, to propagate to the masses, the department assigned the TTVH to hang banners, slogans, and posters along National Highway 1A one week before the festival. All 39 communes and towns have programs about the history of Cuong Temple broadcast on loudspeakers of hamlets and communes. The District Police, District Military Command and Dien Thanh Border Guard Station are assigned to ensure security, order, traffic safety, fire prevention and fighting, and to prevent beggars from occurring during the festival. In general, the propaganda and preparation work for the Cuong Temple Festival up to this point has been quite thorough...

Cuong Temple Festival has truly become an indispensable spiritual and cultural activity for the people of Dien Chau in particular and tourists from all over the world in general. Coming here, visitors can immerse themselves in the poetic Cua Hien - cool Xuan Duong Lake - Dien Thanh Beach Tourist Area, Co Am Pagoda - Ho Linh Son - Hai Vai Cliff reflecting on the Bung River; visit famous landscapes in Dien Chau to understand more about the land and people, a place with a history of more than 1,380 years of civilization, to reflect together and remind each other to preserve, conserve and promote the value of cultural heritages.

Thu Huong