Highlights of the Pho Cat Temple Festival

On the morning of March 27th, the People's Committee of Thach Thanh district organized the Pho Cat Temple Festival 2024 in Van Du town.

Comrades Pham Van Thuy, Deputy Director of the Vietnam National Tourism Administration ( Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism ); Nguyen Van Hung, Standing Committee Member and Head of the Provincial Party Committee's Organization Department; Dau Thanh Tung, Provincial Party Committee Member and Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; and a large number of delegates and people attended the festival.

Attending the festival were: Mr. Pham Van Thuy, Deputy Director of the Vietnam National Tourism Administration (Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism); Mr. Nguyen Van Hung, Standing Committee Member and Head of the Provincial Party Committee's Organization Department; Mr. Dau Thanh Tung, Provincial Party Committee Member and Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; and representatives from the leadership of Nho Quan district (Ninh Binh), Lac Son district (Hoa Binh), and other districts, towns, and cities in the province.

According to historical records, Pho Cat Temple, part of the Pho Cat scenic area in Van Du town, was built during the reign of King Le Canh Hung (1740 - 1786) and is a place of worship for Saint Mother Lieu Hanh - a female deity in the Four Immortals concept of Vietnamese folk religion.

Comrades Pham Van Thuy, Deputy Director of the Vietnam National Tourism Administration (Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism); Nguyen Van Hung, Standing Committee Member and Head of the Provincial Party Committee's Organization Department; and Dau Thanh Tung, Provincial Party Committee Member and Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, performed the incense offering ceremony.

Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, Dau Thanh Tung, beat the drum to officially open the festival.

Legend has it that Saint Mother Lieu Hanh was the celestial princess Quynh Nuong, daughter of the Jade Emperor. Beautiful and talented, she was punished by dropping a jade cup during a celestial ceremony and was sent to earth to experience life as a human being, undergoing three incarnations. The first two incarnations took place in Nam Dinh, where she was known as Le Giang Tien and Pham Tien Nga.

However, when her temporary descent to heaven ended and the Jade Emperor summoned her back, the Fairy Princess's heart yearned for earthly life. Understanding her daughter's feelings, the Jade Emperor allowed her to manifest herself a third time in the Pho Cat (Thach Thanh) region, a place of exquisite beauty, favorable location, high mountains, clear waters, and picturesque scenery, making it a place for her to do good and help others. This was the longest time she had been born into the mortal world.

Chairman of Thach Thanh District People's Committee, Dinh Van Hung, delivered the opening speech for the festival.

Having undergone "three births and three transformations," for generations, Saint Mother Lieu Hanh has become a symbol of a woman of perfect beauty and talent, possessing virtue, filial piety, loyalty, and integrity, a benevolent heart to save the world, along with talents in music, chess, poetry, and painting, supernatural powers, eliminating evil and injustice, helping the people and the country, her good name will be remembered for eternity.

She was bestowed with numerous royal decrees by feudal dynasties from the Later Le Dynasty to the Nguyen Dynasty, honoring her as "Mother of the World - Mother of all people," "Che Thang Bao Hoa Dieu Dai Vuong," "Ma Hoang Princess," and "Duc Bao Trung Hung Cac Dang Than." She is the leading Holy Mother in the Three and Four Realms of Mother Goddess worship and a female deity in the Four Immortals system of Vietnamese deities.

Entrance to Pho Cat Temple.

In particular, among the temples dedicated to the Holy Mother, Pho Cat Temple (Thach Thanh) was the first in the country to be granted a royal decree by the king, bestowing the title of Supreme Deity upon the Holy Mother. This demonstrates the special position of Pho Cat Temple in the worship of the Holy Mother in Vietnam.

Since the establishment of the Pho Cat Mother Goddess Temple, King Khai Dinh, during his visit to Thach Thanh district, once visited the temple and composed poems. In the early 20th century, beside the stream in front of the temple, the Governor-General of Thanh Hoa province had a hexagonal fish-watching tower built specifically for King Bao Dai to sit and enjoy the scenery. Later, due to historical events, the temple was no longer intact, with only the ceremonial gate and the watchtower remaining. Between 1990 and 1995, the local government, the people, and philanthropists contributed to the restoration of the temple complex to its present state.

The central area of ​​the Pho Cat scenic spot is the Mau Temple - a temple dedicated to Saint Mother Lieu Hanh. Additionally, there is the Quan Giam Sat Temple, dedicated to Quan Lieu Hanh, also known as Quan De Nhi Giam Sat. Saint Mother Lieu Hanh and Quan De Nhi Giam Sat are deities worshipped by the local people, who hope for divine protection and blessings for a peaceful life. Therefore, the legends and myths of these deities have become intertwined with people's lives. The reverence and worship of these gods, who protect peace, bring favorable weather, abundant harvests, and prosperity, has been deeply ingrained in the consciousness of the people here for generations.

Art program at the festival.

Previously, the Pho Cat Temple festival was held on a large scale from the 15th of January to the 3rd of March in the lunar calendar, with the main ceremony on the 18th of February in the lunar calendar, including activities such as worship, prayers, spirit mediumship, and folk games. Over time, the Pho Cat Temple festival has gradually faded away and has not been restored and organized in a systematic way, befitting the scale, stature, and importance of the temple.

The restoration of the Pho Cat Temple Festival demonstrates the determination of the Party committees and authorities at all levels, fulfilling the hopes and aspirations of the people and tourists. This enhances the sense of responsibility in preserving and promoting the traditional cultural values ​​of the nation. At the same time, it promotes the cultural and tourism potential, and the image of Thach Thanh's land and people to friends inside and outside the province.

Rituals at the festival.

The 2024 Pho Cat Temple Festival was organized with solemn and respectful rituals and a spectacular theatrical performance with the theme "Sacred Holy Mother of Pho Cat Temple Festival". The most distinctive activity of the festival was the procession of the Holy Mother's effigy.

Procession of the Blessed Mother's effigy.

Art program at the festival.

In addition, the festival was held at Pho Cat Temple and Van Du town stadium with many lively activities such as tug-of-war competitions, cultural exchanges, folk dances, and volleyball matches...

Nguyen Dat

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/van-hoa-giai-tri/dac-sac-le-hoi-den-pho-cat/210105.htm