On October 30 (ie September 10 of the lunar calendar), at the special national relic Keo Pagoda (Vu Tien commune), the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Hung Yen province opened the Keo Pagoda Autumn Festival 2025.
The festival takes place from October 30 to November 4 (ie September 10-15 of the lunar calendar). The ceremony includes traditional rituals such as the opening ceremony, the procession of the Saint, puppetry to pay homage to the Saint, frog dance, rowing to pay homage to the Saint, lantern festival, Mother Goddess worship rituals and sacrificial activities of the worshiping groups, people and Buddhists.
The festival will have many unique cultural and artistic activities such as a boat singing festival, exchanges between rowing clubs, a lantern festival, phoenix-wing betel making and Keo Pagoda's fine art photography exhibition.
The highlight of the opening ceremony of this year's Keo Pagoda Festival is a special art program with the theme "Divine Light", inspired by the dharma name of Zen Master Duong Khong Lo - National Master of the Ly Dynasty.
The art program includes 3 parts with traditional art forms such as rowing, rowing, frog dancing, puppetry... vividly recreated through the performances of professional artists and actors.
Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Hung Yen province Do Huu Nhan emphasized that Keo Pagoda Festival is organized to demonstrate the morality of "When drinking water, remember its source", to remember and show gratitude to ancestors who have contributed to protecting the country and the people; at the same time, to raise the sense of responsibility of all levels, sectors and people in preserving and promoting cultural heritage values to meet the spiritual and cultural needs of people and tourists from all over.
The special features of the festival are the humanistic rituals, games and performances imbued with folk culture, close to the daily life of the residents of the Red River Delta, which are still maintained, preserved and practiced.
Through the festival, the province's tourism development potential is promoted in association with attracting investment for socio-economic development; at the same time, creating a joyful and exciting atmosphere among the people, encouraging and motivating all classes of people to strive to compete, work, train, and produce to successfully implement the goals set out in the Resolution of the 1st Congress of the Hung Yen Provincial Party Committee, term 2025-2030.
Keo Pagoda (literally Than Quang Tu) consists of two architectural complexes: the pagoda is a place to worship Buddha and the temple is a place to worship Saint Duong Khong Lo. In 1962, the pagoda was ranked as a National Monument; in 2012, it was a Special National Monument.
By 2017, Keo Pagoda Festival was recognized as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage.
In 2021, the Keo Pagoda altar was recognized by the Government as a National Treasure. To date, the Keo Pagoda altar is considered the largest among the gilded altars at religious and belief sites in Vietnam.
After nearly 400 years of existence, through many restorations and embellishments, Keo Pagoda still retains its unique architectural identity from the Le Trung Hung period (17th century).
Currently, Keo Pagoda has 17 structures with 128 compartments, main architectural works such as: Tam Quan, Buddha temple, Holy Temple, bell tower, corridor, and monk dormitory area.
Every year, Keo Pagoda has two festivals: Spring Festival takes place in January with folk cultural activities such as duck catching and rice cooking; Autumn Festival is the main festival taking place in the 9th lunar month with a strong historical character, reenacting the life of Zen Master Duong Khong Lo with sacrificial ceremonies and palanquin processions./.
Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/hung-yen-phat-huy-cac-gia-tri-di-san-van-hoa-o-le-hoi-chua-keo-mua-thu-post1073811.vnp
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