Highlights of Dong Cuong Temple Festival, Yen Bai

Dong Cuong is an ancient temple located on the Red River in Van Yen district, Yen Bai province, the main place to worship the Second Mother Goddess of the Thousand Mountains in the Vietnamese custom of worshiping the Mother Goddess of the Three Palaces.

Ancient Tay dance to honor the Mother Goddess at Dong Cuong temple. (Source: VNA)

On the afternoon of February 20 (January 11, Giap Thin year), at the Trung Thien yard and the main temple of Dong Cuong temple, Yen Bai province, the incense offering ceremony and the traditional afternoon banquet at the Dong Cuong temple festival in the spring of Giap Thin year 2024 were solemnly held.

Dong Cuong is an ancient temple located on the Red River in Ben Den village, Dong Cuong commune, Van Yen district. It is the main place to worship the Second Mother of the Upper Realm in the Vietnamese Mother worship tradition of the Three Palaces.

At the first moment of the first lunar month, a special ceremony called the Buffalo Sacrifice Ceremony will take place right in front of the temple yard. This ceremony is imbued with traditional spirituality, clearly demonstrating the customs of the Tay people.

The procession of Mr. Mo performed a ceremony at Dong Cuong temple. (Source: VNA)

Right after the buffalo sacrifice ceremony and the blessing ceremony in the early morning of the first lunar month is the Mother Goddess procession ceremony.

This is one of the main ceremonies of the Dong Cuong Temple Festival, which takes place very solemnly. When the Mother Goddess is carried across the river, the big boat returns, which is also the time to offer incense to the Mother Goddess. The Shaman performs the main worship rituals to pray for national peace and prosperity, good crops, the growth of all things, and a happy life.

Mr. Ha Duc Anh, Chairman of Van Yen District People's Committee, said that through the festival, Van Yen district wishes to continue to expand and promote the image of the national historical relic Dong Cuong temple to tourists from all over the world, gradually creating a breakthrough in developing spiritual tourism, promoting local socio -economic development in 2024 and the following years, actively contributing to the protection and promotion of national cultural identity.

Dong Cuong Temple is also called Than Ve Quoc Temple according to the Nguyen Dynasty's decree. In Dong Cuong Temple, Mau Thuong Ngan is a sacred and supreme authority, but is close and simple in the spiritual life of the people. The image of Mau Thuong Ngan governing 81 forest gates is a mixture and overlap of many legends from different eras.

Yen Bai provincial leaders, delegates and people offer incense at Dong Cuong temple. (Source: VNA)

In addition to worshiping the Second Mother of the Upper Realm, Dong Cuong Temple also worships the God of National Defense - indigenous gods who contributed to the resistance against the Mongol invaders such as Ha Dac, Ha Chuong, Ha Bong...

The temple is considered by many folklore researchers to be the origin of the Mother Goddess of the Upper Realm in the Vietnamese Mother Goddess worship system, has an important position in the Mother Goddess worship system, and is considered the origin of the Mother Goddess of the Upper Realm.

The afternoon feast offered to Mother Goddess includes vegetarian and non-vegetarian offerings. Vegetarian offerings include fruits, cakes, and mooncakes... Non-vegetarian offerings include sticky rice, pork, chicken...

The Shaman burns 12 incense sticks and prays. The Shaman is an elderly person who understands the customs and prayers in the Tay language. He plays the role of a "bridge" between the gods and the community during the festival.

The procession carries offerings at the Dong Cuong Temple Festival in the Spring of Giap Thin. (Source: VNA)

For a long time, Dong Cuong Temple has been a spiritual and religious highlight for many people and tourists from all over the world on their spiritual and cultural tourism journey, remembering their roots, containing many unique cultural features.

The beauty and vitality of regional cultural identity in Dong Cuong Temple Festival is maintained and passed down from generation to generation, not only reflected in festival activities but also in the consciousness of each local resident.

Dong Cuong Temple Festival was recognized as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage in January 2023. (Source: VNA)

The practice of worshipping the Mother Goddess of the Three Realms in general and the worship of the Mother Goddess of the Upper Realm in particular in folk religious activities has long existed in Van Yen, and has existed and had a lasting vitality among the people. In 2023, the Dong Cuong Temple Festival in Van Yen District, Yen Bai Province was included in the List of National Intangible Cultural Heritage by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

After the ceremony will be the festival with many exciting activities such as: Artistic photo exhibition with the theme "Land and people of Van Yen"; reenactment of the cultural space of the rural market; sports competitions and folk games...

(according to VNA)

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