Prayer ceremony and lantern festival on Luc Dau River

On the evening of October 13th, at the Luc Dau River dike in front of the Kiet Bac Temple, the Con Son - Kiet Bac National Special Monument (Tran Hung Dao Ward, Hai Phong City), a prayer ceremony and lantern festival took place with the participation of a large number of local people and tourists.

Prayer ceremony for peace at the Con Son - Kiet Bac Autumn Festival 2025.

Before the ceremony began, in the sacred space of the historical site, the embankment opposite the Kiet Bac temple gate was illuminated with thousands of lanterns arranged to form the words "Lantern Festival - National Peace and Prosperity," with a prominent nine-tiered tower adorned with intricate patterns in the center. According to the Con Son - Kiet Bac Historical Site Management Board, the nine-tiered tower symbolizes the axis connecting heaven and earth, yin and yang. The nine tiers of patterns on the tower are characteristic of Taoism, Buddhism, and Confucianism.

Lanterns twinkle brightly in the night festival.

The prayer ceremony and lantern festival were revived by the former Hai Duong province in 2007 and are associated with the Con Son - Kiet Bac Autumn Festival in the 8th lunar month every year. The festival is not only an occasion for people nationwide to remember and express gratitude for the contributions of their ancestors in building and defending the nation, but also to instill pride in the cultural heritage of the nation.

Lighting lanterns at the prayer ceremony and lantern festival.

The Con Son - Kiet Bac historical site was classified as a national monument in 1962. In 2012, it was classified as a special national monument, and the traditional Con Son Spring Festival and Kiet Bac Autumn Festival were inscribed as national intangible cultural heritage. The 2025 Con Son - Kiet Bac Autumn Festival will be the first festival held after the Yen Tu - Vinh Nghiem - Con Son - Kiet Bac complex of historical sites and scenic spots was inscribed by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage site.

The Luc Dau River is a place that has witnessed many glorious victories of the army and people of Dai Viet, especially the resistance wars against the Mongol invaders in the 13th century. The ritual of praying for peace and the lantern festival have become a tradition at the Con Son - Kiet Bac Autumn Festival for many years.

According to VNA

Source: https://baobacninhtv.vn/le-cau-an-va-hoi-hoa-dang-o-song-luc-dau-postid428796.bbg