Opening of Keo Pagoda Festival in Autumn 2025

Comrades: Tran Quoc Toan, Standing Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee; Nguyen Khac Than, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee and delegates attended the opening ceremony of the Keo Pagoda Festival in Autumn 2025.

Attending the opening ceremony were comrades: Tran Quoc Toan, Standing Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee; Nguyen Khac Than, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; Most Venerable Elder Thich Thanh Duc, Deputy Supreme Patriarch of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha; comrades of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee; leaders of the Provincial People's Council and People's Committee, leaders of departments, branches and localities.

Keo Pagoda, whose Chinese name is Than Quang Tu, in Vu Tien commune is one of the six special national relics of Hung Yen province. According to the legend: In 1061, during the reign of King Ly Thanh Tong, Zen Master Duong Khong Lo built Nghiem Quang Pagoda as a place to hide and preach the Dharma, protect the country and bring peace to the people. The Zen Master had the merit of curing King Ly Thanh Tong's illness, so the King graciously appointed him as the National Master of the Ly Dynasty. In the year of Giap Tuat (1094), during the reign of King Ly Nhan Tong, the Holy Ancestor Duong Khong Lo passed away at the age of 79. In 1167, King Ly Anh Tong issued an edict to change the name of Nghiem Quang Pagoda to Than Quang Pagoda to commemorate and express gratitude for the Zen Master's merit.

In 1611, a great flood swept away and destroyed the pagoda. After 19 years of preparation and 28 months of construction, the Keo Pagoda, Than Quang Tu with its internal and external architectural style, Buddha in front and Saint in back, was completed in November 1632. Currently, the pagoda has 17 structures with 128 rooms. In 2017, the traditional festival of Keo Pagoda was recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage. In 2021, the altar of Keo Pagoda was recognized as a national treasure.

Comrade Tran Quoc Toan, Standing Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee presented flowers of congratulations.

Most Venerable Thich Thanh Hoa, Deputy Head of the Standing Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha Provincial Executive Committee, presented flowers of congratulations.

Comrade Nguyen Khac Than, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee beat the drum to open the Keo Pagoda festival in the fall of 2025.

At the opening ceremony, after the incense offering ceremony, comrade Tran Quoc Toan, Standing Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, presented congratulatory flowers; comrade Nguyen Khac Than, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, beat the drum to open the traditional festival.

Comrade Do Huu Nhan, Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism delivered the opening speech of the festival.

The opening art program includes 3 chapters: Divine Light, echoing for thousands of years, Hung Yen heritage flow. The performances were elaborately and uniquely staged, recreating and spreading the morality and wisdom of Zen master Duong Khong Lo, the founder of Keo Pagoda, transmitting compassion and faith in goodness to all people along with the heritage value, Keo Pagoda, the unique culture of this land, connecting the past with the present, affirming the eternal vitality of Hung Yen culture that continues to shine in the new era.

Art program to celebrate the opening ceremony of Keo Pagoda festival in autumn 2025.

In 2025, the provincial-level Autumn Keo Pagoda Festival will take place from October 30 to November 4, 2025 (from September 10 to 15, At Ty year) with many traditional rituals such as: opening ceremony, procession of the Saint, puppetry to serve the Saint, frog dance, rowing to pay homage to the Saint, sacrificial activities of the People and Buddhist followers, and cultural, artistic, sports and folk games such as: yachting, singing and exchanging with rowing clubs, lantern burning night, phoenix-winged betel and betel making, organizing a photography exhibition of Keo Pagoda...

The Autumn Keo Pagoda Festival creates a joyful and exciting atmosphere, encouraging and motivating people of all walks of life to compete in labor, training, production, and successfully implementing the goals set out in the Resolution of the 1st Congress of the Hung Yen Provincial Party Committee, term 2025 - 2030.

Trinh Cuong

Source: https://baohungyen.vn/khai-mac-le-hoi-chua-keo-mua-thu-nam-2025-3187246.html