Special palanquin procession ritual in Bac Le Temple Festival

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- During the year, Bac Le Temple (Tan Thanh commune) has 5 festivals, of which the Mother Goddess festival is held from the 18th to the 20th of the 9th lunar month, which is considered the most important festival with many cultural and spiritual activities that attract a large number of people in the region and tourists from all over to worship and perform the ceremony. Especially on the main festival day, the 20th of the 9th lunar month, the most special ceremony of Bac Le Temple Festival takes place, vividly demonstrating the Mother Goddess worshiping life of the people of Lang. With the brilliant colors of flags, costumes, and a long line of people respectfully following the resounding music, the palanquin procession is not only a spiritual activity but also an opportunity for the community to gather, preserve and spread the beauty of traditional culture through many generations.

Early in the morning of the 20th day of the 9th lunar month, the palanquin procession departed from Bac Le Temple to Deo Keng Temple. Leading the procession was the lion-lion-dragon team, followed by the flag-bearing team, horse-carrying team, and music team. Following behind was a group of attendants dressed in military uniforms whose duty was to assist the procession.

The most prominent in the procession are the two palanquins (carrying the Tran Dynasty mandarins and the Mother Goddess). The palanquins are elaborately and beautifully carved, each carried by eight strong young men.

The palanquins have the same number of bearers, umbrellas, and costumes as the palanquin procession. Behind the palanquin procession are the female mediums, villagers, and disciples following the procession.

The bronze men responsible for leading each palanquin and carrying the incense bowls and tablets of the Saints into the temple all wear red cloths covering their mouths because, according to folk beliefs, human breath is not clean and causes impurity and disrespect to the Saints.

At intersections and when arriving at Deo Keng Temple yard, the palanquins rotate to show the authority and sacredness of the palanquins.

The procession arrived at Deo Keng Temple at around 9 to 10 am. According to some records of researchers, Deo Keng Temple is the place to worship the Mother Goddess of the Upper Realm, Chau Be Bac Le and many other saints in the Mother Goddess worship of the Vietnamese people. This is also the resting place and stopping place of the Mother Goddess during the festival. Immediately after the procession arrived, the grand ceremony performed by the celebrant and members of the Grand Ceremony Committee was carried out with procedures such as: welcoming the gods; offering incense, flowers, tea; reading prayers for peace...

After the paper is burned, the main work is considered complete. The celebrant reads the concluding prayer.

After completing the spiritual rituals at Deo Keng Temple, the saints will be invited back to Bac Le Temple. The returning procession is conducted in the same way as the departure procession. In the photo, the palanquin procession begins to leave Deo Keng Temple.

Upon arriving at Bac Le Temple, the bronze statue placed the tablet and incense bowl from Deo Keng Temple on the altar of the Three Holy Mothers at Bac Le Temple. After that, the rituals and spiritual ceremonies were conducted with the same content and process as at Deo Keng Temple. When the rituals ended, the procession was officially completed.

The Bac Le Temple Festival was restored in 2018 and has been maintained to this day, becoming a unique spiritual and cultural meeting place for tourists and people of Lang Son. In the sacred space of the festival itself, the palanquin procession with colorful flags and flowers, bustling drums, and solemn people performing the ceremony... has created a vivid picture, connecting the Mother Goddess worship with the spiritual and cultural life of the community. The moments in the palanquin procession of the Bac Le Temple Festival this year are even more meaningful when taking place in the atmosphere of the two-level local government and the people joining hands to preserve and promote the value of spiritual and cultural heritage, towards praying for national peace and prosperity, good crops, a prosperous and happy life.

Source: https://baolangson.vn/huyen-linh-le-ruoc-kieu-net-dep-tam-linh-o-den-bac-le-5064423.html