Registering festivals to protect intangible cultural heritage

Dong Nai is making efforts to preserve and promote traditional cultural values ​​through preparing dossiers and proposing to register many festivals in the National Intangible Cultural Heritage List.

People eagerly participate in cultural activities of the 2024 Death Anniversary of Mr. Nguyen Huu Canh. Photo: L.Na

The proposal to register festivals not only affirms the importance of festivals in community life, but is also an important step to preserve cultural values ​​from the risk of fading away, promote tourism development, and promote the image of Dong Nai to domestic and foreign tourists.

More festivals are recommended for registration

The Death Anniversary of Lord Nguyen Huu Canh and the Vegetarian Festival at the Ancestor Temple are two of the traditional festivals that Dong Nai has compiled a dossier for, proposing to be listed in the National Intangible Cultural Heritage List in 2025. In particular, the Death Anniversary of Lord Nguyen Huu Canh is held to commemorate the contributions of the famous general Nguyen Huu Canh, who contributed to the expansion of the Southern territory. The death anniversary consists of two parts, the ceremony with traditional rituals such as incense offering, palanquin procession and the festival with unique cultural and artistic activities, attracting a large number of people and tourists to participate.

Mr. Nguyen Trung Cang, the Board of Trustees of Nguyen Huu Canh Temple, said that the annual death anniversary of Mr. Nguyen Huu Canh is associated with the historical relic of Nguyen Huu Canh Temple and Tomb - one of the typical relics marking the more than 325 years of formation and development of Bien Hoa - Dong Nai. Through the practice of the death anniversary, cultural knowledge is passed on, contributing to improving the cultural and spiritual life of local people,educating the younger generation about traditions, creating cohesion among members of the community, and supporting each other in life.

Every year, at the To Su Temple Relic (Buu Long Ward, Bien Hoa City), the Three Ancestors' Anniversary Ceremony is held on the 13th day of the 6th lunar month. However, according to ancient custom, every 3 years, the To Su Temple organizes a large-scale vegetarian festival with many rituals and ceremonies lasting from the 10th to the 13th day of the 6th lunar month to show gratitude and commemorate the merits of the Three Ancestors, Thien Hau Thanh Mau, Quan Thanh De Quan and other gods. This is a big festival of the Chinese community of He state in Bien Hoa, attracting a large number of people from inside and outside the province to participate.

Head of the Board of Trustees of the Ancestor Temple Relic, Truong Lam Thuy, said that over the years, the board has been proactive in preserving and promoting the value of the Ancestor Temple Relic and the Vegetarian Festival through specific actions. These include providing information for research, study, and learning of students; making films introducing the relic, posting festival videos on Youtube and Facebook to promote and introduce the festival domestically and internationally. The festival has been maintaining, practicing, and promoting the traditional culinary culture of both Chinese and Vietnamese people in Bien Hoa - Dong Nai.

In addition to the death anniversary of Mr. Nguyen Huu Canh and the Vegetarian Festival of the Chinese at the Ancestor Temple, Dong Nai has built a scientific dossier, proposing to list the Sayangva Festival of the Choro people in Dong Nai on the List of National Intangible Cultural Heritage. This is a meaningful work in the protection of cultural heritage, a way for today's generation to preserve and pass on precious values ​​to future generations.

Important step to preserve national soul

Chairman of the Dong Nai Historical Science Association, Master Tran Quang Toai, said that the significance of the Death Anniversary of Lord Nguyen Huu Canh is not only important to the people of Bien Hoa - Dong Nai, but also has an influence on the entire Southern region. Many provinces and cities currently worship Lord Nguyen Huu Canh. Therefore, the organization of the Death Anniversary of Lord Nguyen Huu Canh should be developed into a regional death anniversary to create a widespread influence among the people.

“I think that the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Dong Nai should coordinate with the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of An Giang and Quang Binh provinces to organize exchange activities and meetings of the communal house committees during the Commemoration Ceremony of Thanh Hau Nguyen Huu Canh. The crystallization of cultural values, historical values, scientific values, ethical and humanistic values ​​of the commemoration ceremony contributes to creating the strength of culture, reflecting the cultural consciousness of the nation” - Master Tran Quang Toai shared.

Currently, Dong Nai Museum has implemented and introduced a 360 virtual reality tour of the National Monument of Nguyen Huu Canh Temple and Tomb. In the upcoming roadmap, the museum will continue to compile a scientific dossier to upgrade the To Su Temple Relic from provincial level to national level, commensurate with the inherent value of the relic. In addition, Dong Nai Museum has inventoried and will develop a plan to digitize relic artifacts, make a 360 virtual reality film to introduce the To Su Temple Relic and the Vegetarian Festival.

Dong Nai’s efforts in compiling dossiers and proposing to register traditional festivals in the National Intangible Cultural Heritage List are an important step in the journey to preserve the soul of national culture. Because, once cultural heritage is properly preserved, it is not only a tribute to the past, but also a solid foundation for cultural development in the future.

Source: https://bvhttdl.gov.vn/dong-nai-ghi-danh-le-hoi-de-bao-ve-di-san-van-hoa-phi-vat-the-20250217154350078.htm