Cuong Temple Festival: Returning to the roots
(Baonghean) - Every year, in the spring (from the 12th to the 15th of the second lunar month), a large number of people in Dien Chau district flock to Cuong temple to attend the festival, commemorating the great contributions of Thuc An Duong Vuong, who, together with the people, defeated the Qin and expelled the Trieu, gaining independence and freedom for the nation. Opening a golden page in the tradition of indomitable resilience against foreign invaders of the Vietnamese people.
An Duong Vuong's name was Thuc Phan, a descendant of 18 Hung Kings, a man of extraordinary health, intelligence, and strategy. Thuc Phan had great merit in uniting the tribes in the North of our country, uniting talented generals and all the people to defeat the invading army of the Qin Dynasty.
In the triumphal ceremony, Thuc Phan was honored to be crowned king, with the title of An Duong Vuong, and changed the country's name to Au Lac, moved the capital from Phong Chau to Co Loa, and reigned for 50 years (from 257 to 208 BC). Under An Duong Vuong, our country developed in many aspects, especially with new advances in rice production and national defense. An Duong Vuong built the spiral-shaped Co Loa citadel, outside the citadel was the Dao River connecting the branches of the Red River, patrolled strictly day and night by warships. In particular, he created a very effective crossbow, which could kill many enemies with one shot (called the divine crossbow).
The procession from Xuan Ai temple to Cuong temple. Photo: Tran Canh Yen
At that time, in the North, Trieu Da and his son did not submit to the feudal state of China and rose up to claim sovereignty in the Southeast. With the plot to expand and expand the territory, Trieu Da repeatedly invaded Au Lac. But An Duong Vuong had high walls, deep moats, strong soldiers, strong generals, and powerful weapons, so he repeatedly defeated Trieu Da's invading army. Unable to defeat Au Lac by military force, Trieu Da cunningly used a peace plan, formed a marriage alliance, and let his son Trong Thuy marry Princess My Chau, waiting for the opportunity to annex Au Lac. An Duong Vuong did not expect that the love and happiness of My Chau and Trong Thuy and the despicable tricks of Trieu Da would lead to an unpredictable national disaster for Au Lac.
In 208 BC, Thuc An Duong Vuong was suddenly attacked by Trieu Da's army, had to retreat to the South and committed suicide at Cua Hien, north of Mo Da mountain, now in Dien An commune, Dien Chau district. To commemorate the merits of Thuc An Duong Vuong, the people of Dien Chau built a temple at the top of Mo Da mountain and held an annual festival, attracting a large number of people and visitors from all over to attend.
Cuong Temple Festival has become an indispensable part of the daily life of Dien Chau people, Nghe An people and tourists from all over. As scheduled, every year from the 12th to the 15th of the second lunar month, festival activities take place. This year's Cuong Temple Festival was prepared by Dien Chau district from the beginning of the first lunar month. Communes simultaneously launched a campaign to clean the environment and hang banners and slogans "Welcome Cuong Temple Festival 2012" from the middle of February. Currently, the radio stations of 39 communes and towns continuously broadcast on the loudspeaker system about the origin of Cuong Temple Festival. Athletes of communes together with high school students of schools in the Southern cluster have now basically practiced the martial arts program to participate in carate performances, traditional martial arts... to serve during the festival days.
Coming to Cuong Temple Festival, visitors not only enjoy the solemn and respectful ceremonies before the spirit of Thuc An Duong Vuong and the gods imbued with the national identity of Dien Chau land, but also immerse themselves in the jubilant festival atmosphere with folk games, cultural activities, and sports imbued with national identity such as: cockfighting, swing, tug of war, u game...
In particular, you can immerse yourself in the melodies of the Ca Tru Club, the Poetry Club, folk music; admire the beauty of Cuong Temple with the charming beauty of Dien Chau land and sea... Cuong Temple Festival is also an opportunity for tourists to visit Cua Hien - Xuan Duong Lake, Dien Thanh Sea Service Area, Co Am Pagoda - Linh Son Lake - Hai Vai Rock reflecting on the poetic Bung River. Come to the famous relics in Dien Chau, 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 heritage.
Coming to Cuong Temple is an opportunity for people from all over the country, from the countryside to the sea to meet and exchange with each other, show off the traditional cultural features of each locality, especially to review the traditional history of their ancestors, and pray for favorable weather, good crops, calm seas, full holds of fish and shrimp, peaceful villages, happiness and prosperity for every family.
Thu Huong
