Respectful and solemn Cuong Temple Festival

(Baonghean) During 4 days (March 4-8), the 2012 Cuong Temple Festival in Dien An Commune, Dien Chau District took place solemnly, respectfully, and enthusiastically, imbued with national cultural identity. Many visitors from all over the country came to Cuong Temple to offer incense and flowers to express their gratitude to the merits of Thuc An Duong Vuong.

On the morning of March 7, the full moon day of February, the crowd of people flocking to Cuong Temple grew larger and larger. Everyone was dressed neatly, their faces were radiant, respectfully offering offerings: fresh flowers, sweet fruits, fragrant incense... in memory of Thuc Phan - the king who founded the Au Lac Nation.

Chairman of Dien Chau District People's Committee - Nguyen Ngoc Vo beat the drum to open the festival. The drum set was performed by TTVH. After the opening ceremony at the temple yard, the festival yard held activities: opening tug of war, traditional martial arts performances, cultural and artistic activities imbued with national identity (cock fighting, merry-go-round, human chess...) excitingly and attractively mixed with the laughter of the people of the sea and tourists from all over the world coming to participate in the festival.

Lion dance to celebrate the opening of Cuong Temple Festival.

Like all coastal people, every year Mr. Tran Van Vinh (60 years old) in Quyet Thang hamlet, Dien Bich commune also temporarily stops going to the sea to enjoy the Cuong temple festival. Not only Mr. Vinh, many elders in Dien An commune such as Mr. Tu, Mr. Hai, Mr. Tran... are over 80 years old, no longer strong enough to participate in the worshiping team, music team, food team... but every year on the Cuong temple festival, they still return to the temple to offer incense and attend the festival.

Cuong Temple worships Thuc An Duong Vuong, located on Mo Da Mountain in Dien An Commune, Dien Chau District. Every year, on the occasion of the full moon of the second lunar month, local people and visitors from all over the country come to the festival to enjoy spring, offer incense and flowers, and pray for good things to come to every home, for calm seas and skies, for full holds of fish and shrimp, and for fertile fields.

Cuong temple does not hold festivals like Co Loa, but every year there is a great sacrifice to the gods called Quoc Te on the 15th day of the second lunar month. The sacrifice to the gods must have three animals (buffalo or cow, pig and chicken). The great sacrifice of the whole village is very solemn. The temple area is covered with flags, umbrellas and canopies. A large flag hangs on the top of the three-door gate. Drums and gongs resound throughout the forest. People of all ages come to attend the ceremony and watch, crowded all over the road. From the 14th day of the second lunar month, the announcement ceremony began. The palanquin procession comes from Cao Ai village.

This year, it is easy to see that the festival is being organized in an increasingly orderly manner, ensuring joy, economy, safety, contributing to preserving and honoring the cultural beauty rich in the identity of the homeland of Dien Chau. That result, first of all, must mention the proper and appropriate attention of all levels and sectors from the province to the grassroots, the area where the festival takes place. The direction is smooth and in compliance with the set plan, suitable to the characteristics of the festival, the characteristics of the area and the population. The traditional folk character of the festival is more emphasized. All have deeply expressed the respectful meaning and aspirations of the people, praying for "National peace, people's peace", favorable weather, calm seas, full silver fish, lush fields..., increasing solidarity between regions.

It can be affirmed that, through the festival, the cultural values ​​of the homeland are preserved and promoted in a positive way. The proof is that many types of art, sports and healthy, useful and meaningful folk games have been included in the festival such as: Ca tru, poetry, human chess, merry-go-round, tug of war, cockfighting... The most typical are folk songs, lion dances, and performances of traditional martial arts.

...11pm on the 15th day of the 2nd lunar month, the moon was shining brightly, people poured into the temple, the festival yard was packed with people. More joy, more intoxication in the atmosphere of the King and Princess's procession, followed by the campfire. The joy lasted all night, no one wanted to leave. Surely, when the Cuong Temple Festival ended, in everyone's heart there were more beautiful memories, more joys of the spring days with the Cuong Temple Festival.

Thu Huong