Nghe An does not organize buffalo slaughtering in the Nine-Room Temple Festival

(Baonghean.vn) - The traditional festival of the Nine-Chamber Temple (Que Phong district, Nghe An) has long included the buffalo slaughtering performance. However, this year, the buffalo brought out for the ceremony was not slaughtered but returned to the owner.

The Nine-Chamber Temple was built in the early 14th century in Pu Cho Nhang, called Ten Pon (Temple on the Mountain), in Khoang village, Chau Kim commune, Que Phong district. The temple worships Then Pha (worshiper of the sky), Nang Xi Da (daughter of the sky) and Tao Lo Y, who had the merit of building the village and establishing the village.In front of the temple are nine white and black buffaloes symbolizing nine villages and ten muongs.

Since ancient times, the Nine-Chamber Temple Festival has been held every three years in the eighth lunar month, an occasion for the Thai people from nine villages and ten Muongs in Phu Quy area to gather in their homeland to hold a festival to worship heaven and ancestors, praying for favorable weather and good crops. Festival-goers, whether old or young, men or women, all wear Thai ethnic costumes.

Since 2006, the Nine-Chamber Temple Festival has been held on a grand scale in the Spring (14th, 15th and 16th of the second lunar month every year, with the main festival opening on the 14th of the second lunar month) to meet the spiritual and cultural needs of the Thai people. In particular, the festival features a buffalo slaughtering performance that attracts a large number of participants.

This year, Que Phong district still retains the unique buffalo sacrifice ceremony from the past, but does not organize the buffalo slaughter in an offensive way. After the ceremony, the buffalo is returned to the owner. Other offerings still retain the traditional features.

In the temple, artifacts such as rattan trays, chairs... have been preserved for many years so that visitors can see with their own eyes the cultural values ​​of the region every time they return.

The Nine-Room Temple Festival, besides the solemn, respectful and traditional rituals, is also bustling with folk games such as: tug of war, crossbow shooting, throwing balls, bamboo pole dancing, gong beating, cooking sticky rice, regional culinary competitions, camping, beauty contests...

The festival also has booths displaying products from the villages. The new feature of this year's festival is the participation of culture, arts, and traditional folk games imbued with the national identity of Quy Chau and Quy Hop districts.

This year, Que Phong district still maintains the unique features of the ceremony, but the new feature this year is that after the buffalo sacrifice ceremony is finished, the buffalo is handed over to the homeowner without the buffalo slaughtering part as before.

Coming to Chin Gian Temple in particular and Que Phong district in general, visitors can also admire attractive tourist attractions such as Sao Va Waterfall, Tham Om Cave, a 7-storey waterfall located halfway up the mountain with fresh, cool air and the sound of birds.

The 7-storey waterfall (Hanh Dich commune) is 12-15 km from Chin Gian temple and Kim Son town. The road to the 7-storey waterfall is quite convenient, the asphalt road is wide. The waterfall has many beautiful stalactites.

Thu Huong