Nghi Loc: Opening Ceremony of Cua Temple Festival and the Tomb of General Ninh Ve
(Baonghean.vn) -On the morning of April 11th (corresponding to the 2nd day of the 3rd lunar month of the Year of the Snake), Nghi Khanh commune (Nghi Loc district) held the opening ceremony of the Cua Temple and General Ninh Ve's tomb festival in 2013. Thousands of local residents and representatives from relevant departments of the province and district attended the opening ceremony.
The festival takes place over three days, from April 11th to 13th. Along with rituals such as the opening ceremony, announcement, incense offering, sacrifices to the gods, and thanksgiving ceremonies, the festival also includes cultural and sporting activities such as performances, human chess competitions, volleyball, and traditional folk games like tug-of-war, stick pushing, and wrestling.
Sacrificial rituals during the Cua Temple Festival
Cửa Temple, also known as Khánh Duệ Temple, was built during the Trần Dynasty (13th century) to worship Queen Âu Cơ and other virtuous figures in Vietnamese history such as Chiếu Minh Vương, Trần Quang Khải, General Ninh Vệ, Duke Nguyễn Cảnh Quế, and Confucian scholar Phùng Thời Tá. Built in the shape of the Chinese character "三" (three), with three buildings: the Lower Hall, the Middle Hall, and the Upper Hall, Cửa Temple is located on a beautiful plot of land in Khánh Đền hamlet, Nghi Khánh commune, Nghi Lộc district, near National Highway 46, 20 km from Vinh City.
A performance at the festival.
Along with Cờn Temple and Cuông Temple, Cửa Temple is one of the three major temples in the coastal region of Nghe An. During the period of clandestine activities, Communist fighters such as Nguyen Duy Trinh and Hoang Van Tam often came here to operate. It was also a training ground for soldiers and a place to hide weapons during the resistance against the French and the Americans.
Over time and due to various social changes, the temple has fallen into serious disrepair. Therefore, in 2003, with donations from local people and the support and assistance of various departments and levels of government, the temple was renovated to its present state. In 2009, Cua Temple was recognized as a "Historical and Cultural Relic" by the People's Committee of Nghe An province; since 2010, the Cua Temple festival has been restored and held annually at the beginning of the third lunar month, attracting local people and tourists from all over to visit and worship.
Viet Long
