Qua Son Temple Festival (Nghe An) recognized as National Intangible Cultural Heritage

Attending were comrade Nong Quoc Thanh - Deputy Director of the Department of Cultural Heritage - Sports & Tourism; Ho Mau Thanh - Member of the Provincial Party Committee, Director of the Provincial Department of Culture and Sports.

Comrade Nong Quoc Thanh - Deputy Director of the Department of Cultural Heritage, Sports and Tourism awarded the Certificate of recognition of Qua Son Temple Festival as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage. Photo: Huu Hoan

Uy Minh Vuong Ly Nhat Quang was the 8th son of King Ly Cong Uan. In 1039, he was assigned by his father to govern the Hoan Chau region. With his extraordinary intelligence, in 1044, he was promoted from Marquis to King. During his tenure, he was the one who had the merit of driving out foreign invaders, expanding the territory, and building the prosperous development of the Hoan Chau region.

In 1057, Uy Minh Vuong Ly Nhat Quang died and became a saint at the foot of Qua mountain, in Boi Son commune, Do Luong. After 16 years as the governor of Nghe An, with his great achievements and contributions, after his death, Uy Minh Vuong Ly Nhat Quang was worshiped by the people of Nghe An and Ha Tinh provinces, many temples were built to burn incense in his memory, the main temple being Qua Son temple today.

Every year on the 17th of December is his death anniversary, and from the 18th to the 20th of January is the Qua Son Temple Festival. In December 1998, Qua Son Temple was recognized as a National Historical Site.

Handing over the decision to announce Qua Son Temple as a tourist destination in Nghe An. Photo: Huu Hoan.

At the ceremony, Mr. Nong Quoc Thanh - Deputy Director of the Department of Cultural Heritage, Sports and Tourism awarded the Certificate of recognition of Qua Son Temple Festival as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage to Do Luong district and Boi Son commune. Leaders of Nghe An Department of Tourism awarded the Decision to announce Qua Son Temple as a tourist destination in Nghe An.

Comrade Phung Thanh Vinh - Deputy Secretary, Chairman of Do Luong District People's Committee performed the drum beating ceremony to open the festival. Photo: Huu Hoan

After the ceremony, the organizing committee conducted a procession by water. Delegates participated in the procession of His Majesty Uy Minh Vuong Ly Nhat Quang to Ba But Pagoda to hold a thanksgiving ceremony on Lam River.

The 2019 Qua Son Temple Festival attracted thousands of people and tourists to participate. Along with the procession of Uy Minh Vuong Ly Nhat Quang, people and tourists from many places lined up to carry him up to give thanks.

The procession of King Uy Minh Ly Nhat Quang to Ba But Pagoda. Photo: Huu Hoan.

At Ba But Pagoda, the delegates and people carrying Uy Minh Vuong Ly Nhat Quang and the offerings stopped in the yard to perform the Thanksgiving ceremony. After the Thanksgiving ceremony was the Chieu Nghinh Thanh Giap Hoi Cung ceremony, the procession returned to Qua Son Temple and held the An vi ceremony.

The Qua Son Temple Festival is one of the largest and most meaningful festivals in Nghe An. The Thanksgiving Festival reflects the traditional moral spirit of the nation, reviving the martial spirit and the tradition of "remembering the source of water" of the nation and folk culture.