The 204th anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. Do Cong Tuong's death

Updated date: 07/12/2024 06:01:53

DTO - From July 12 to July 15, 2024 (June 7 to 10, Giap Thin year), to commemorate the merits and kindness of Mr. and Mrs. Do Cong Tuong towards the people and land of Cao Lanh, Cao Lanh City People's Committee organized the 204th death anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. Do Cong Tuong with many cultural, artistic and sports activities.

The temple of Mr. and Mrs. Do Cong Tuong is decorated and prepared for the death anniversary.

Cultural and artistic activities

Ms. Le Thi Mai Trinh - Vice Chairman of Cao Lanh City People's Committee, said: The death anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. Do Cong Tuong aims to create favorable conditions for people inside and outside the province to come and pay their respects, remember the moral example of Mr. and Mrs. Do Cong Tuong who reclaimed wasteland and helped people, and at the same time contribute to promoting the image of Cao Lanh City to tourists inside and outside the province. Cao Lanh City People's Committee organizes decoration, promotion and tourism connection activities and culture, arts, physical education and sports in the 204th death anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. Do Cong Tuong in 2024".

During the days of the death anniversary, the City's Center for Culture - Sports and Broadcasting organized the decoration of the Countryside Cultural Space and the ancient Hoa An Village (recreating the Garden Market, Calligraphy, organizing the experience of printing and giving wood carvings, decorating ancient agricultural tools, decorating the ancient Hoa An Village Space, performing Don ca tai tu and Ho Dong Thap...) on Le Loi Street, in front of the gate of the Temple of Mr. and Mrs. Do Cong Tuong (abbreviated as the Temple) and Do Cong Tuong Bridge (Delta Lamp Night Market area). Along with that, promotional activities - connecting tourism and culture, arts, physical education and sports were organized such as: painting statues, painting decorations on tourism products (handbags, hats, backpacks...) introducing local specialties associated with promoting Cao Lanh City tourism in the area of ​​the Oil Lamp Night Market.

In addition, many activities take place every day during the anniversary. Specifically, on July 12, 2024 (June 7 of the lunar calendar), the National Sports Festival will be held on Le Loi Street (in front of the Temple gate); cultural, artistic, physical education and sports activities and performances at the Oil Lamp Night Market area; exchanges and performances of Don Ca Tai Tu and Ho Dong Thap Space, and a general art program (at the stage in front of the Temple gate).

On July 13, 2024 (June 8 of the lunar calendar), the Cao Lanh City expanded physical training exchange activity was held at Hai Ba Trung Park; the National Sports Festival was held in front of the Temple gate; the Cao Lanh City Street Bands exchange was held at the Thuy Tien Den Stage, Van Mieu Park (Ward 1, Cao Lanh City). Along with that, the City Culture - Sports and Broadcasting Center coordinated with the Temple's Worship Committee to organize a comprehensive art program of Cai Luong Co, Don Ca Tai Tu - Ho Dong Thap and the Lan - Su - Rong Performance (at the stage in front of the Temple gate). The City Department of Education and Training organized the 2nd Contest to learn about "Places, History, Culture" of Cao Lanh City in 2024 at Van Mieu Park (Cao Lanh City Book Street area).

On July 14, 2024 (June 9 of the lunar calendar), activities will continue to take place such as: Lion - Lion - Dragon Performance and the Comprehensive Art Program of Cai Luong Tuong Co, Don Ca Tai Tu - Ho Dong Thap. Along with that, the Championship of Chinese Chess and Chess Clubs of Cao Lanh City will be held in the area in front of the Temple gate; mobile propaganda activities to promote the city's tourism image at Hai Ba Trung Park. On July 15, 2024 (June 10 of the lunar calendar), the Championship of Chinese Chess and Chess Clubs will continue to take place and the 2024 Cao Lanh City Boat Racing Competition will be held on Cao Lanh River (Hai Ba Trung Park area).

Organizing the decoration of the Cultural Space of the Countryside and the ancient Hoa An Village (Photo: T.Truc)

Prepare for the anniversary

The temple and tomb of Mr. and Mrs. Do Cong Tuong are located at 64 Le Loi Street, Ward 2, Cao Lanh City, Dong Thap Province. In 2019, the tomb and temple of Mr. and Mrs. Do Cong Tuong were ranked as a National Historical and Cultural Relic. The annual death anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. Do Cong Tuong has become a city-level festival of Cao Lanh City. For the people of Cao Lanh, the death anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. Do Cong Tuong is an occasion to show gratitude to the ancestors who have contributed to the people and is also a religious belief in the spiritual life of the people of Cao Lanh, especially those who do business at Cao Lanh market, always praying for Mr. and Mrs. Do Cong Tuong to bless them with good business and prosperity.

These days, people in Cao Lanh and from other places eagerly come to offer offerings, commemorate the merits of their ancestors and participate in festival activities. This is the joy of many local people. Ms. Tran Thi Thanh Thuy in Ward 1, Cao Lanh City, shared: “Every year, on the occasion of the death anniversary of the Cao Lanh Market Owner, I, like other Cao Lanh people, arrange my housework to come and worship them; remember the merits of our ancestors and pray for our family members to be healthy, have favorable weather, and have a smooth and prosperous business.”

Mr. Nguyen Anh Tuan - Head of the Worship Committee of the Temple of Mr. and Mrs. Do Cong Tuong, said: "Every year, about 70 - 80 thousand people in Cao Lanh and from other places come to worship Mr. and Mrs. Do Cong Tuong. To prepare carefully for the 204th anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. Do Cong Tuong, in recent days, people have gathered to clean up, arrange logistics to prepare the worship ceremony and welcome people during the days of the anniversary."

Not only the Worship Committee, the authorities and the Cao Lanh City government are ready, but the generous people of Cao Lanh are also ready. On the days of the death anniversary of the ancestors, there will be many places giving out free food and drinks for people to worship their ancestors. Mr. Pham Van Nam (also known as Mr. Tu Chua), residing in Hoa Thuan ward, shared: “In the past, I traded at Cao Lanh market, now my children also trade at the market, so my family has participated in distributing water for many years in the Beverage Charity Group on the death anniversary of the ancestors. Through this small act, we hope to contribute to showing gratitude to the ancestors who saved the people of Cao Lanh from disaster in the past, as well as supporting the relatives and friends near and far to come to worship the ancestors to reduce some of the costs and expenses”.

These days, the atmosphere and the people coming to Cao Lanh City are bustling and crowded. It can be said that the death anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. Do Cong Tuong is a festival of the people's hearts. For many generations of Cao Lanh people, whether living locally or elsewhere, they all keep memories of the death anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. Chua Chu, of their beloved homeland Cao Lanh - preserving the traditional beauty of the nation "When drinking water, remember its source".

In the early years of King Gia Long's reign, Mr. and Mrs. Do Cong Tuong, whose real name was Lanh, were born in the Central region and came to settle down in My Tra village, Kien Phong commune (now Cao Lanh city). Their family was well-off and their character was upright, so the villagers appointed him to hold the position of Cau Duong, to judge disputes in the village.

The land was reclaimed, so the couple planted a tangerine garden on the bank of Thay Kham canal. This place was convenient, so more and more people gathered to buy and sell. Seeing that buyers and sellers had no place to take shelter from the scorching sun and heavy rain, the couple built a hut made of bamboo and leaves, temporarily turning it into a market. Over time, the market became prosperous, some called it Vuon Quyt market, others called it Ong Cau or Cau Lanh market...

In the year of Canh Thin (1820), the people of My Tra and the surrounding area were ravaged by a cholera epidemic, many people died. Feeling sad, the couple set up an altar to worship heaven and earth, vowed to die in place of the people and prayed for the epidemic to end soon. After praying, the couple fasted and practiced asceticism for 3 days, on the 9th of June, she fell ill and died, on the 10th, the couple also fell ill and died, after that the cholera epidemic ended.

To commemorate their merits, the people built a temple to worship them, called the Temple of the Market Owners, and held a memorial service on June 9-10 every year. The Market of the Garden of the Mandarin gradually recovered, became more prosperous than before, and was known to everyone as the Market of Cau Lanh, and then it was rumored that it was moved to Cao Lanh at some point, no one knew when.

Thanh Truc

Source: https://baodongthap.vn/van-hoa/le-gio-ong-ba-do-cong-tuong-lan-thu-204-123864.aspx