The unique ceremony at Phuc Co communal house in Minh Hoa commune.

On November 5th, 2025 (the 24th day of the 12th lunar month of the Year of the Snake), at Phuc Co Temple in Minh Hoa commune, the local people and descendants of 36 clans living in the area solemnly organized the Village Temple Prayer Ceremony for 2025. This is a long-standing traditional cultural and religious activity, closely associated with the spiritual life of the local people for many generations.

Mr. Phung Van Ty - the caretaker of Phuc Co Temple - performs the prayer ceremony.

Phuc Co Temple in Minh Hoa commune is a provincial-level historical and cultural relic, a place of worship for King Quang Trung and the Seven Great Kings. It is the only temple in the province dedicated to King Quang Trung, restored in 2008 and recognized as a provincial-level historical and cultural relic in 2011.

The ceremonial part was performed according to traditional rituals.

Every year, Phuc Co Temple holds four prayer ceremonies: the annual festival (15th day of the first lunar month), the rice planting ceremony (1st day of the fifth lunar month), the main prayer ceremony (5th-6th day of the eleventh lunar month), and the forest closing ceremony (25th day of the twelfth lunar month). Of these, the main prayer ceremony is the most important ritual, maintained annually by the local government and people, reflecting the principle of "drinking water, remembering the source," and praying for favorable weather, abundant harvests, and peace for the people.

According to tradition, the 4th and 5th days of the 11th lunar month each year are the main prayer days at Phuc Co village temple. Local people revere King Quang Trung - whose given name was Nguyen Hue (1788-1792), a national hero honored as "The Hero in Simple Clothes".

In addition, the temple also worships the Seven Great Kings - historical and legendary figures who contributed to the village, blessing the people with favorable weather, protecting them from natural disasters and epidemics.

The palanquin procession at Phuc Co Temple.

According to tradition, the fourth day of the lunar month is the day of the prayer ceremony; the fifth day is the day of the grand ceremony and procession. The offerings include: offerings to the guardian deity, the spirits, the sacred tree, and the five mountain gods; after the ceremony, there are cultural activities and folk games.

Local Party and government leaders offer incense during the ceremony at Phuc Co Temple.

At the ceremony, in a solemn atmosphere, before the spirits of King Quang Trung and the Seven Great Kings, the leaders of the Party Committee and local government respectfully offered gifts and incense, expressing their deep gratitude to their ancestors; at the same time, they prayed for national peace and prosperity, for the eternal well-being of all families; they prayed for Phu Tho province to develop further, becoming a leading province in the Northern Midlands and Mountains region; and for Minh Hoa commune to continuously innovate and develop sustainably, with the people's lives becoming increasingly prosperous and happy.

Comrade Ha Thang Long - Vice Chairman of the Minh Hoa Commune People's Committee, Head of the Phuc Co Temple Management Board, and Head of the Organizing Committee for the 2025 Temple Prayer Ceremony, said: The temple prayer ceremony is an opportunity for the people and descendants of various clans to turn towards their roots, respectfully express gratitude to their ancestors, and pray for the village's guardian deity to bless the homeland with peace, the people with health and unity, and to build Minh Hoa commune into an increasingly developed area.

Mr. Phung Van Ty, the caretaker of Phuc Co Temple, added: "The temple prayer ceremony is the most important festival for the temple and the local people. Through these communal rituals, the spirit of solidarity and unity within the community is strengthened, contributing to the preservation of traditional cultural identity."

Sports competitions between Minh Hoa commune and neighboring communes create a joyful and exciting atmosphere.

Along with the ceremonial part, the festival was lively with cultural exchange activities and a volleyball match between teams from Yen Lap, Tan Son, and Minh Hoa communes, creating a joyful and enthusiastic atmosphere and strengthening solidarity among the localities.

A large number of locals and tourists from all over the country came to attend the festival.

This year's Phuc Co Temple Festival was organized in a solemn and economical manner, with funding from the temple's own resources and social contributions. Through the festival, the locality continues to preserve and promote traditional cultural values, contributing to educating the younger generation about patriotism, national pride, and the awareness of preserving the cultural heritage of their homeland.

Vinh Ha

Source: https://baophutho.vn/doc-dao-le-cau-dinh-phuc-co-xa-minh-hoa-244699.htm