Ve Yen village preserves the spirit of the Dong Hai Dai Vuong festival.

VHO - Not only is it a place of worship for Dong Hai Dai Vuong Nguyen Phuc, a loyal official during the Later Le Dynasty, the Nguyen Phuc Temple festival in Dong Quang ward (Thanh Hoa) also preserves unique folk performances, becoming a cultural and spiritual meeting point for locals and tourists.

The village elders performed the ritual of offering sacrifices to the village's tutelary deity, Nguyen Phuc, in a solemn atmosphere at the temple.

Amidst the ever-changing urban life, Ve Yen village, now part of residential area 3, Dong Quang ward (Thanh Hoa province), still preserves a rich traditional cultural space through the festival at the temple of Nguyen Phuc, the village's patron saint, revered by the people for hundreds of years.

The historical site of the Nguyen Phuc temple is associated with Dong Hai Dai Vuong Nguyen Phuc, who served as an official under King Le Thanh Tong.

He held many important positions, including Grand Academician of the Eastern Pavilion, Deputy Lecturer, and Commander-in-Chief in charge of transporting military supplies during the southern campaign against Champa.

According to historical accounts, during a military supply transport trip through the Cua Hoi (Sam Son) area, a major storm hit. He decided to have the fleet anchor and wait for the storm to subside to protect the lives of his soldiers and the supplies.

The delay of a few days in supplies led to him being charged with insubordination and sentenced to be beheaded.

Later, in recognition of his merits and loyalty to the country, King Le Thanh Tong posthumously bestowed upon him the title of God of the Eastern Sea Dragon King, and ordered the construction of temples in his honor in 72 locations.

Among them, the temple in Ve Yen village has become one of the places that the people have preserved and offered incense to for generations.

Through the vicissitudes of time and war, the temple was severely damaged, many religious artifacts were lost, leaving only the pair of ceremonial horses, the stone pedestal, and some ancient relics.

By 2000, through social mobilization and the joint efforts of local people, the temple was restored according to traditional architecture.

Since then, the Nguyen Phuc Temple festival has been held regularly on the 7th and 8th days of the first lunar month, becoming an indispensable spiritual and cultural activity for the local people.

Amidst the lively drumming of the spring festival, the procession carrying the palanquin of the Great King of the East Sea paraded around the village, receiving the reverence of a large crowd of people.

Elderly people in traditional attire performed the sacrificial ceremony according to ancient rituals.

Each week, wine and incense are offered as a token of gratitude to the ancestors who contributed to the nation and its people; at the same time, they convey the hope for a peaceful and prosperous new year.

Beyond its spiritual significance, the festival also serves as a space for preserving many unique folk games and performances such as word-running, spinning tops, human chess, blindfolded drum beating, cultural exchanges, and recreational volleyball.

The highlight was the "Peace and Prosperity" calligraphy display performed by the calligraphy team from Ve Yen village, with the participation of about 100 people.

The decisive strides and the smoothly changing formations that created the four characters signifying a wish for national peace and prosperity left viewers in awe.

To achieve such a spectacular performance, the members had to practice for a long time, from movement and maintaining distance to the uniformity of each step. If even one person was out of sync, the entire formation would lose its precision.

Alongside these were performances by the Tieu Son martial arts club, a drum ensemble of over 30 people, and various amateur performing arts groups, creating a festive atmosphere that was both solemn and vibrant.

A large number of locals and tourists attended the annual Nguyen Phuc Temple Festival held at the Nguyen Phuc Temple historical site.

Not limited to the rural village, the cultural clubs and performing arts troupes of Ve Yen also regularly participate in many major cultural events of the province at the Lam Kinh National Special Historical Site, the Le Hoan Temple, the Thai Mieu of the Later Le Dynasty, the Le Loi Monument, or Lam Son Square.

According to a representative of the Management Board of the Nguyen Phuc Temple historical site, over many generations, the festival has not simply been a religious activity at the beginning of spring, but has become a spiritual anchor, a place to preserve community memories and traditional cultural values ​​of the people of Ve Yen village.

According to the representative, each ritual in the festival has its own meaning, expressing gratitude to Dong Hai Dai Vuong Nguyen Phuc, who is revered by the people as a patron saint who contributed to the homeland and the country.

At the same time, this is also an opportunity for people to express their wishes for national peace and prosperity, favorable weather, and a comfortable and peaceful life in the new year.

"Even though society is developing rapidly and many customs and traditions are changing with the pace of modern life, the people of Ve Yen still always hold a special reverence for the traditional festivals of their homeland."

"For the people here, the festival is not only a joyous occasion for the village but also an opportunity to remind their descendants of their roots and the principle of 'drinking water, remembering the source' that has been preserved for generations," the representative shared.

According to the monument management board, every spring, many people who live and work in other provinces and cities arrange to return to participate in the festival.

People contribute their time and resources, and those who participate in training for the calligraphy teams, drum teams, and ceremonial teams create an atmosphere of unity and solidarity within the community.

“What is valuable is that the festival always receives a great response from the people. Elderly people directly guide the rituals and pass on customs to the younger generation; young people actively participate in dance troupes, drum teams, and calligraphy teams; many families voluntarily contribute funds to purchase costumes, repair ritual objects, and prepare palanquins for the procession. It is this unity that has helped the festival to be maintained until today,” the representative added.

According to local people, the festival at the Nguyen Phuc temple has become an indispensable part of the spiritual life of the people of Ve Yen village.

More than just a community cultural event, the festival also contributes to strengthening neighborly bonds, fostering a sense of pride and awareness among individuals in preserving the traditional values ​​of their homeland amidst modern life.

Representatives from the Management Board of the Nguyen Phuc Temple historical site shared that the festival has long become a beautiful cultural and spiritual tradition of the local people, reflecting the principle of "drinking water, remembering the source," commemorating the village's patron deity Nguyen Phuc, and praying for national peace and prosperity.

"The festival is also an opportunity for those who have left their hometowns to return and reunite, connect with their roots, and contribute to building a more prosperous and civilized homeland," the representative said.

According to local people, despite the many changes brought about by modern life, the festival at the Nguyen Phuc temple remains an integral part of the spiritual life of the people of Ve Yen village.

The villagers voluntarily contributed funds to purchase ceremonial costumes, drums, and palanquins; young people participated in teams carrying out calligraphy, dancing, and drumming; and the elderly took on the ceremonial duties and passed on customs to the next generation.

Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/van-hoa/lang-ve-yen-giu-hon-le-hoi-dong-hai-dai-vuong-225479.html