Opening Ceremony of the Ca Temple Festival

The festival is associated with traditional activities and rituals aimed at contributing to the preservation and safeguarding of the nation's cultural values, and promoting the potential for cultural and spiritual tourism in Hong Linh town (Ha Tinh province).

On the morning of November 22nd, Hong Linh town held the opening ceremony of the Ca Temple Festival - the residence of Quan Hoang Muoi.

The ceremony was attended by the Chairman of the Provincial Party Committee's Inspection Commission, Ha Van Trong; the Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, Le Ngoc Chau; leaders of several departments and agencies; leaders of Hong Linh town; and a large number of visitors from all over the country.

Delegates attending the opening ceremony

The Ca Temple - the residence of the governor Hoang Muoi, also known as the Mo Hac Linh Tu Temple, was built by our ancestors over 700 years ago, during the Ly Dynasty, according to historical records.

The temple boasts a massive architectural scale, built in the shape of the Chinese character "一" (one); it includes: the inner sanctuary (also known as the forbidden palace), the upper hall, the middle hall, and the lower hall. As the largest temple in the entire district, it is called the Main Temple. The name Dinh Do Quan Hoang Muoi is named after the main figure worshipped at the temple.

Vice Chairman of Hong Linh Town People's Committee Tran Xuan Duc inaugurated the festival.

The temple was built on a prime location at the confluence of three rivers (Lam River, La River, and Minh River), where the alluvial deposits of the three rivers created a land formation resembling a crane's beak (a sacred animal often riding on the back of a turtle to pay homage before temples). Therefore, it is commonly known by the people as the Crane's Beak Temple or Crane's Beak Sacred Temple, meaning the sacred land of the temple.

Cultural performances at the opening ceremony

According to the Vietnamese polytheistic belief system, the Ca Temple is dedicated to the worship of many deities, including celestial, human, and nature gods. Specifically, in addition to the main deity, Ông Hoàng Mười, the temple also worships Tam Lang (the snake god) and Lê Thị Ngọc Dung, the adopted daughter of King Lê Thái Tổ.

A large number of local people and tourists from all over the country attended the opening ceremony.

Every year, according to local custom, to commemorate the merits of Lord Hoang Muoi and the deities worshipped at the temple who helped protect the people from invaders and natural disasters, the people of the region hold a festival to honor their achievements and pray for peace and prosperity for the community and a bountiful harvest.

The procession of the deity Hoang Muoi during the Ca Temple festival.

The festival is usually held throughout the tenth lunar month, with the main ceremony on the 10th day of the tenth lunar month (October 10th), featuring many folk activities and games such as: swimming, walking on a bridge, cockfighting, swinging on a swing... attracting many tourists and people from all over to participate.

Leaders of Hong Linh town beat drums and gongs to inaugurate the Ca Temple - Quan Hoang Muoi Palace Festival in 2023.

This year's festival, organized by the People's Committee of Hong Linh town, will take place from November 20-22 (corresponding to the 8th to 10th day of the 10th lunar month), with activities such as: a competition for wrapping banh chung (traditional Vietnamese rice cakes) to offer to the Saint; a water procession (water offering ceremony); a procession to welcome the Venerable Hoang Muoi (land procession); state ceremonies; and folk rituals.

At the opening ceremony, the Organizing Committee of the Ca Temple - Quan Hoang Muoi Palace Festival awarded prizes for the competition in wrapping and cooking banh chung (traditional Vietnamese rice cakes) offered to the Saint, organized by the Farmers' Association of Hong Linh Town.

Secretary of the Town Party Committee Le Thanh Dong presented the special prize to the Duc Thuan ward team.

Deputy Secretary of the Town Party Committee Nguyen Thang Long presented the first prize to the Trung Luong Ward team.

Chairman of the People's Committee of Hong Linh town, Nguyen Huy Hung, presented the second prize to the Dau Lieu and Nam Hong ward associations.

Nam Giang

Source: https://baohatinh.vn/nui-hong-song-la/khai-mac-le-hoi-den-ca-dinh-do-quan-hoang-muoi/257679.htm