Quan Thanh Temple Festival:

The ritual of carrying trays of offerings to the Saint by residents of all residential areas in Ba Dinh ward. *Photo: MH*

Quan Thanh Temple - Tran Bac is a famous historical and architectural monument associated with the formation of Thang Long citadel. Quan Thanh Temple still preserves 8 royal decrees granted by kings of various dynasties from the Le Trung Hung period to the Nguyen dynasty.

A spectacular drum performance at the festival. *Photo: MH*

The temple was recognized as a national historical and cultural relic in 1962. Sixty years later, on January 18, 2022, the Prime Minister issued a decision classifying the historical and architectural relics of "Thang Long Four Guardian Temples," including Bach Ma Temple, Voi Phuc Temple, Kim Lien Temple, and Quan Thanh Temple, as special national relics.

Reading the eulogy offered to the Holy Saint Huyền Thiên Trấn Vũ. *Photo: MH*

The festival commemorating the "Day of the Descent of Saint Huyền Thiên Trấn Vũ" aims to express gratitude for the merits of Saint Huyền Thiên Trấn Vũ - the deity who protected the peace of the ancient Thăng Long capital; and at the same time, to honor the beautiful traditional cultural values of the Vietnamese people.

ba-dinh3(1).jpg — Numerous residents of Ba Dinh ward and tourists offered incense and paid homage to the Holy Saint Huyen Thien Tran Vu at the festival. *Photo: MH*

The traditional festival is also an opportunity for officials and people of Ba Dinh ward to continue preserving the beauty of national culture and promoting the value of the Thang Long Tu Tran special national historical site. Through this, it strongly inspires the spirit of unity, the will to strive forward, and the aspiration to build and develop Hanoi , Ba Dinh ward, into a "refined, civilized, serious, and compassionate" capital city.

The Tran Vu cultural space within the grounds of Quan Thanh Temple. *Photo: MH*

This year's festival was organized with many important rituals such as the worship of the Saint, the procession of offerings to the Saint from all residential areas in the ward; the procession and reading of the congratulatory address; the grand sacrificial ceremony by the male ritual team; and the incense offering ceremony by the female incense offering team.

Locals and tourists view the artifacts preserved in the Tran Vu Quan Cultural Space. *Photo: MH*

Besides the traditional solemn ceremonies, Nguyen Dan Huy, Vice Chairman of the Ba Dinh Ward People's Committee, said that the Organizing Committee has built a cultural space for the historical site with the participation of many individuals, organizations, and businesses.

The tradition of asking for auspicious calligraphy at the beginning of the year is re-enacted at the Quan Thanh Temple festival. *Photo: MH*

"With determination and the involvement of the entire political system, we believe that the Quan Thanh Temple Festival will become a cultural event, an annual festival for all people in Ba Dinh ward, a highlight of spiritual tourism in Hanoi, thereby leaving a strong impression on domestic and international tourists," said the Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Ba Dinh ward.

A cultural space dedicated to tea, providing a resting place for locals and tourists at this special national historical site. Photo: MH

Attending the festival, Ms. Nguyen Thi Van (residential group No. 13, Ba Dinh ward) said there were many differences, the decorations and arrangements were more beautiful, and the Tran Vu Quan cultural space created a highlight. "I attend the festival every year, and each year I see that Quan Thanh Temple has new highlights, creating new experiences for locals and tourists in this long-standing cultural and historical space," Ms. Van said.

Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/le-hoi-den-quan-thanh-ton-vinh-gia-tri-di-tich-quoc-gia-dac-biet-734704.html