Sacred autumn space of Con Son-Kiep Bac

Water procession - one of the rituals restored with the participation of the community. Photo: THANH CHUNG

National soul

The Con Son - Kiep Bac Autumn Festival is held annually to commemorate the death anniversary of National Hero Tran Hung Dao (August 20th of the lunar calendar). The festival is not simply a cultural and religious activity, but also a day of gratitude, remembrance, and tribute to ancestors.

At Kiep Bac Temple, the festival space is filled with the scent of incense, the resounding sound of gongs and drums, and the loud shouts of elders during the flag procession and sacrificial ceremony. Traditional rituals such as the seal opening ceremony, praying for peace, the procession, the flag sacrifice, and the incense offering ceremony are solemnly restored, associated with the majestic image of the National Duke and Commander Tran Hung Dao.

The sacrificial teams and procession teams in traditional costumes walked solemnly to the traditional ceremonial music. Kiep Bac Temple seemed to be filled with sacred atmosphere.

In Con Son, the place associated with the life and career of the national hero, world cultural celebrity Nguyen Trai, the sound of temple bells, the sound of wooden fish, the incense offering ceremony at Nguyen Trai temple are solemnly held, commemorating the great intellectual who devoted his whole life to the country. Coming here, visitors seem to return to the glorious pages of history, clearly feeling the national soul in each ritual.

According to Mr. Le Duy Manh, Deputy Head of the Management Board of Con Son - Kiep Bac relics, today's festivals are no longer separate in two relics but are combined in one space with an increasingly large scale, having a profound influence on the cultural life of the residents of the Red River Delta. Con Son - Kiep Bac festival is recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage with many rituals and ceremonies crystallizing the sentiments, wisdom, customs and typical practices of the residents of the Northern Delta.

Ms. Pham Thi Lien, a tourist from Hanoi , expressed: “I was very moved when attending the procession. The image of hundreds of people and tourists heading towards Kiep Bac temple, both solemn and respectful, made me clearly feel the spirit of solidarity and national pride.”

Connecting the community, spreading values

*The festival always attracts a large number of people and tourists.* Photo: THANH CHUNG

Not only is it a ritual to commemorate the merits of ancestors, the Con Son Kiep Bac autumn festival is also a great festival for the people. Local people have long considered this an occasion for descendants from all over to return to their roots, with national pride.

During the festival, tens of thousands of tourists flock to the relic site. The space around Luc Dau River, Dragon Mountain, Phoenix Mountain, Con Son Pagoda... is filled with festival colors. Besides traditional rituals, there are also many folk games, Quan Ho singing, Cheo singing, Hau Dong performances... recreating the rich spiritual life of the residents of the Red River Delta.

The interweaving of rituals and vibrant community cultural activities creates the enduring vitality of the festival.

Tran Van Hoang - a young person from Da Nang city who came to the Con Son - Kiep Bac festival shared: "The most impressive thing is the closeness of the festival. Coming here, people are not only spectators, but also participants, the subjects of the festival. I clearly feel the community connection, the pride when joining hands to preserve and spread tradition".

For many consecutive years, state management agencies and local authorities have focused on the restoration and organization of ceremonies according to the correct standards, while simultaneously promoting and introducing the heritage value to the general public and international friends. Thanks to that, the festival has increasingly become a cultural and religious event with wide influence.

This year's Con Son - Kiep Bac Autumn Festival is held more specially than in previous years. This is a big festival after the merger of Hai Phong - Hai Duong, a cultural event right after the first City Party Congress and the first festival after the Yen Tu - Vinh Nghiem - Con Son, Kiep Bac scenic complex was recognized by UNESCO as a world cultural heritage. This further affirms the outstanding global value of the complex and makes the festival a source of pride for the people of Hai Phong and the whole country.

"The traditional rituals in the Con Son - Kiep Bac autumn festival such as opening the seal, commemorating, carrying out the procession... are ranked by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism as national intangible cultural heritage, so the organizing committee carries them out with the spirit of preserving them intact and maintaining their unique features" - Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism Tran Thi Hoang Mai affirmed.

This event also contributes to promoting the development of cultural and spiritual tourism, creating livelihoods for local people. Many families provide accommodation services, introduce traditional cuisine... both increasing income and contributing to preserving the identity of the homeland.

In the context of international integration, when traditional values are facing many challenges, the Con Son - Kiep Bac autumn festival is becoming a spiritual support, a reminder for the Vietnamese people to always be grateful to their ancestors, to cherish their heritage, and to turn tradition into strength to move towards the future.

The sacred autumn space of Con Son - Kiep Bac today is an extension of the nation's historical source. The memorial rituals, the solemn processions, the resounding drum beats are the bridge connecting modern people with their ancestors.

(According to Hai Phong Newspaper)

Source: https://baoninhbinh.org.vn/khong-gian-linh-thieng-mua-thu-con-son-kiep-bac-251007151450641.html