Van Temple Festival - Cua Rao: Commemorating the contributions of General Doan Nhu Hai and the soldiers of the Tran Dynasty

Thanh Cuong• March 1, 2024 14:28

(Baonghean.vn) - Located at the river junction, where the Nam Non and Nam Mo rivers converge to form the majestic Ca River, which fertilizes the downstream area, Van - Cua Rao Temple is considered the most sacred temple in the Western region of Nghe An. On the morning of March 1 (January 20), people from all over the country eagerly attended the Van - Cua Rao Temple Festival.

In 1335, General Doan Nhu Hai and Emperor Tran Nhan Tong went to fight against the Ai Lao invaders who invaded the border of Nam Nhung (into Tuong Duong today). In the battle at Nam Nhung hamlet along the two banks of the Tiet La river (upstream of Lam river), Doan Nhu Hai's army was suddenly ambushed by the Ai Lao army, and encountered unfavorable weather, thick fog, and fast-flowing river water... so they suffered great losses. Photo: Thanh Cuong

General Doan Nhu Hai was killed in battle while commanding troops to fight the enemy. The people of Nam Nhung recovered his body and that of the Tran soldiers, embalmed it, buried it on a hill in Cua Rao, Xa Luong commune, Tuong Duong district, and built a temple to worship him. Photo: Thanh Cuong

Students join the procession at the Van Temple Festival. Photo: Thanh Cuong

Comrade Dinh Hong Vinh - Deputy Secretary, Chairman of Tuong Duong District People's Committee delivered a speech beating the drum to open the Van - Cua Rao Temple Festival in 2024. Photo: Dinh Tuan

The ancient Van Temple was just a temple built in the 14th century. In the early 19th century, some lowland residents came here to fish and trade, saw the sacred temple and contributed to rebuilding it, and the name Van Temple appeared from then on. Photo: Thanh Cuong

Comrade Lo Thanh Nhat - Member of the District Party Committee, Vice Chairman of the District People's Committee delivered the opening speech at the festival. Photo: Dinh Tuan

In addition to worshiping General Doan Nhu Hai and soldiers who died in battle during the Tran Dynasty, the temple also worships gods and saints, including the Three Holy Mothers and the Five Venerables. Photo: Thanh Cuong

Tuong Duong district leaders and shamans perform the ceremony. Photo: Dinh Tuan

Van Temple is located on the archaeological site of Den Hill, dating back to the early Bronze Age, right at the confluence of the Ca River. Here, archaeologists have excavated artifacts such as bronze arrowheads, knives, swords, spears, lances or stone axe blades, net weights and thread-spinners, stone grinding tables, stone adzes, and some quite sophisticated ceramic products with decorations similar to Phung Nguyen culture ceramics in the Northern Delta. Photo: Thanh Cuong

The temple still preserves some bronze worship objects from the Phung Nguyen culture period such as: bronze bells, bronze incense burners, statues of Buddha Quan Am... In the temple area, there are also many ancient trees that have been recognized as heritage trees. Photo: Thanh Cuong

Every year, the Van Temple Festival is held from the 20th to the 22nd of the first lunar month. The ceremony is held very solemnly with the traditional cultural identity of the ethnic groups in Western Nghe An. Photo: Thanh Cuong

The festival includes many folk games, cultural activities, physical training and sports imbued with the ethnic identity of Western Nghe An such as: tug of war, crossbow shooting, throwing con, fighting, stilt walking, carving beds, bamboo dancing,... Photo: Thanh Cuong

The Van - Cua Rao Temple Festival is the largest spiritual activity in the Southwest region of Nghe An, attracting tens of thousands of visitors from all over the world to worship and visit. Photo: Thanh Cuong

Thanh Cuong