King Quang Trung Temple Festival

(Baonghean) - As scheduled, every year on the 5th day of the first lunar month, Vinh City people and visitors from near and far eagerly flock to King Quang Trung Temple on Dung Quyet Mountain to attend the Ngoc Hoi - Dong Da Victory Celebration. This year, in addition to the solemn ceremony, the festival also restores folk games such as traditional wrestling, tug of war, martial arts performances, etc. This is the second year the temple has organized a ceremony to issue seal cards to pray for everyone and every family to have peace and luck in the new year.

Delegates perform the ceremony to request the "Seal Card". Photo: Xuan Luong

Resounding victory of Ngoc Hoi - Dong Da

226 years ago, in the context of internal and external enemies, the country was invaded by the Manchus, Nguyen Hue - Quang Trung organized a ceremony to ascend the throne as Emperor, then immediately ordered troops to march to the North to repel the foreign invaders. On December 29, Mau Than year (1788), the insurgents arrived in Nghe An, ordered General Ham Ho Hau to both recruit and train soldiers, and in a short time, recruited more than ten thousand soldiers to march to attack Thang Long citadel.

On the night of the New Year's Eve, the three Tay Son infantry armies set out from Tam Diep. The main attack was personally commanded by Emperor Quang Trung, directly attacking the defense system in the South of Thang Long, using Ngoc Hoi fort as a key stronghold. Admiral Long commanded the attack, suddenly attacking Dong Da fort and then penetrating deep into Ton Sy Nghi's headquarters in Tay Long palace. Before that, Admiral Loc and Admiral Thuyet commanded two naval armies also set out from Bien Son, crossed the sea to attack Hai Duong and arranged to block the Qing army's retreat through Lang Giang, Phuong Nhan, and Yen The. With the military strategy, the formidable battle formation and the lightning-fast, stormy attack of the Tay Son army, after only 5 days and nights, the entire defense system and resistance of the Qing army were crushed. The two battles of Ngoc Hoi and Dong Da on the morning of the 5th day of Tet were resounding victories, playing a decisive role in the victory of the great defeat of the Qing army, liberating Thang Long citadel. The Qing commander, Sun Shiyi, “lost his soul, without time to put on his armor or saddle his horse, leading his cavalry to cross the pontoon bridge and flee north.” The Qing army in Thang Long was mostly destroyed, many enemy generals were killed, and the remaining troops fled in chaos. At noon on the 5th day of the Lunar New Year in 1789, Emperor Quang Trung, wearing a robe dyed black with gunpowder, riding a war elephant, led the victorious army straight into Thang Long amidst the jubilant welcome of the people.

The victory of Ngoc Hoi - Dong Da marked a brilliant milestone in the history of our people and nation's fight against foreign invaders, ending the domination of the invading Manchu empire, bringing peace and autonomy to the nation.

King Quang Trung Temple Festival

For a long time, in the minds of every city resident, the Quang Trung King Temple has become an indispensable destination at the beginning of the New Year. In particular, on the 5th day of the first lunar month, more visitors come to the temple, because this is an opportunity to review the heroic historical events of our people and nation: the Ngoc Hoi - Dong Da victory, the Spring victory of the year Ky Dau (1789) and to pay tribute to the great contributions and achievements of the cloth-clothed hero Nguyen Hue - Quang Trung, who had the merit of unifying the country, expanding the territory, for the prosperity and happiness of the people.

Joining the crowd returning to Quang Trung Temple on the big day, Mr. Nguyen Viet Thanh (70 years old), grade 12, Trung Do ward, excitedly said: Every year, he brings his grandchildren back to offer incense in memory of King Quang Trung, which is an opportunity for them to understand the history of Nghe An in particular and the country in general.

To prepare for the solemn and respectful celebration, the preparation for welcoming visitors as well as ensuring security and order is the top priority of the Temple Management Board. Mr. Vu Hong Duc, Deputy Head of Vinh City's Department of Culture, Head of Quang Trung Temple Management Board, said: In order to respond to the people's feelings for Emperor Quang Trung; continue to propagate, promote and develop spiritual cultural values ​​associated with service development and tourism right from the time before Tet, we have coordinated with Trung Do ward authorities to clean the temple area and decorate banners and slogans from the foot of the mountain to the temple gate. The Temple Management Board coordinated with the city police and Quang Trung ward to arrange human resources to ensure security and order during the New Year and festival days. This is the second year Quang Trung Temple has organized the distribution of 8,000 "Quang Trung Linh Tu - Seal Cards" to visitors attending the festival on January 5, meeting the religious needs of the people.

In addition to enjoying the spiritual cultural values, admiring the beautiful natural scenery, the sacred quiet space of the sacred temple, when coming to the temple of Emperor Quang Trung, visitors also have the opportunity to enjoy the special flavor of the specialty Che Vang, harvested by the Management Board from the natural Che Vang tree on Dung Quyet mountain where the temple is located.

Thanh Thuy - Thu Huong