Solemn opening of the Mai King Temple Festival 2024

Attending the festival were comrade Bui Dinh Long - Member of the Provincial Party Committee, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; leaders of provincial and Nam Dan district departments, branches and sectors; a number of districts, cities and towns in the province; together with people from all walks of life in Nam Dan district and tourists from all over the country.

Before the opening ceremony, the District Party Committee, People's Council, People's Committee, Fatherland Front Committee of Nam Dan district and all classes of people held a grand ceremony according to traditional rituals at the King Mai temple, located in Mai Hac De block, Nam Dan town; to commemorate and pay tribute to the contributions of national hero Mai Thuc Loan - Mai Hac De and the generals who overthrew the domination of the Tang Dynasty, established Van An citadel and built an independent nation in 10 years (713 - 723).

Organizing the opening ceremony of the Mai King Temple Festival in 2024 in conjunction with the 1311th anniversary of the Hoan Chau uprising, the Party Committee and People of Nam Dan district reviewed the life and merits of King Mai Hac De, Mai Thieu De and generals in the Hoan Chau uprising in the 8th century.

Mai Thuc Loan was born in the year of Canh Ngo (670). Witnessing the people's suffering due to the harsh and exploitative policies of the Tang Dynasty, with the desire to regain independence and autonomy for the nation, in the year of Quy Suu 713, Mai Thuc Loan raised the flag of uprising.

The Hoan Chau uprising with 10 years of independence (713 - 723) had an extremely great significance; was an important milestone on the path of fighting for national independence after 1,000 years of Chinese domination; was a powerful historical evidence, affirming the aspiration for independence and autonomy of our nation against foreign invasion and domination, had the effect of encouraging and adding great strength to generations of Nghe An people and the entire Vietnamese nation to inherit and promote in the struggle to protect, build and develop the homeland and country.

Mai Hac De's life and career originated from and were closely associated with the land of Nam Dan, "a famous and beautiful place with many heroes from ancient times". To remember and show gratitude for the great contributions of Mai Hac De, Mai Thieu De (Mai Thuc Huy - Mai Hac De's son) and his generals and soldiers, the people of Hoan Chau built a temple at Mai Hac De's tomb and a temple to worship Mai Hac De in the center of the ancient Sa Nam region, now in Nam Dan town.

In Nam Dan district, in addition to the tomb and temple of King Mai Hac De, there are also the following relics: the tomb of King Mai's mother; the temple of King Mai's mother; Nam Son temple - Duc Ong temple; Mai Thieu De temple; Kha Lam communal house; Van An citadel relic in Nam Dan town. The temple of King Mai Hac De was ranked as a special national relic by the Prime Minister in Decision No. 1649, dated December 29, 2022.

History of the Mai King Temple Festival, according to French documents, at Mai Hac De Temple, many festivals take place such as Mai Hac De's death anniversary (17/9 lunar calendar), Khai Xuan (full moon of January), Thanh Minh (in the third lunar month), Doan Duong festival (5/5 lunar calendar), Trung Nguyen festival (full moon of July), Thuong Tan festival (in October, the beginning of the harvest season), Lap Nghi festival (25/12 lunar calendar).

In addition, during droughts or the three-year exams, those who passed or were promoted to official positions were presented at the temple to King Mai and his generals with respect and gratitude.

Up to now, the temple still maintains the above mentioned festivals, but the largest one is the Mai King Temple Festival, which takes place from the 13th to the 15th of the first lunar month every year.

The 2024 Mai King Temple Festival will be held for 3 days from February 22 to 24, 2024 (ie January 13 to 15, Giap Thin year) with many unique activities, aiming to meet the spiritual and cultural needs and experiences of people and tourists from all over.

After the opening ceremony, drum beating to open the festival and the offering of incense to commemorate King Mai Hac De, Mai Thieu De and the generals, a traditional wrestling competition and men's volleyball competition took place, attracting a large number of people and tourists to cheer.