Sacred Duc Hoang Temple Festival
(Baonghean) In Do Luong, many historical and cultural relics are preserved, restored and become places for spiritual and cultural activities for the people. One of those sacred destinations is Duc Hoang Temple in Yen Son Commune, Do Luong.
Mr. Hoang Van Khuyen of the Temple Management Board said: "Every year, on the full moon of January, the whole commune organizes a very solemn and joyful festival. Local people as well as tourists from all over the country come to worship and have fun in large numbers. In addition to the ceremony, there are also folk games such as tug of war, cockfighting, and chess competitions."
Crowds of people came to worship at Duc Hoang Temple.
Going back in history, in the early 16th century, the Later Le Dynasty was in decline and chaos. The royal family of the Le Dynasty had to go into hiding.
According to legend, King Quang Thieu's wife, Mrs. Bui Thi Ngoc Thuy, fled to the Diem Trang region (now Yen Son, Van Son-Do Luong communes) and gave birth to a handsome son named Le Ninh. The Le dynasty's subordinate, General Nguyen Kim, raised an army in Ai Lao (Laos), found Le Ninh and established the throne, naming the reign Nguyen Hoa.
In the spring of the year Quy Ty 1533, King Le Trang Ton rose up to restore the Le dynasty, reclaimed land, suppressed foreign invaders, and revived the country in the post-Le period; creating conditions for the people to have a stable and peaceful life. In 1548, King Le Trang Ton passed away. The people built a temple to commemorate his merits and the gods. Since the Le dynasty, the people in the area have organized a palanquin procession from Long Thai communal house, Thai Son commune to Duc Hoang temple on the 15th day of the first lunar month; creating a great festival for the people of Do Luong. In 1996, Duc Hoang temple was recognized as a national historical and cultural relic.
Over the years, the preservation and restoration of Duc Hoang Temple has been of constant concern to Party committees, authorities, organizations and the people. Through the ups and downs of history, the temple still retains its ancient beauty. Currently, the temple has two areas, the upper temple and the lower temple; the upper temple has 3 compartments, the lower temple has 5 compartments, the patterns with dragon and phoenix images on the pillars and beams are exquisitely carved.
It is the preservation and conservation of these historical relics that has made Duc Hoang Temple a spiritual destination for people and tourists from all over the world every year. Everyone who comes to Duc Hoang Temple expresses their deep gratitude, remembers the contributions of their ancestors in building and protecting the Fatherland and wishes for a year of favorable weather and prosperous business.
This is also the expression of the nation's morality of "When drinking water, remember the source, when eating fruit, remember the person who planted the tree". Mr. Hoang Van Kien, Vice Chairman of Yen Son Commune People's Committee said: "In order for the Duc Hoang Temple Festival in 2012 to be respectful, solemn, safe, economical and attract people to the festival, the Commune People's Committee has planned to organize diverse and rich activities, imbued with national cultural identity. This year, in addition to the ceremony, the communal festival will be organized with folk games and sports, ensuring spirituality and joy for the people and tourists".
Doan Hoa
