King Mai Temple Festival

The Mai King Temple Festival is an important traditional cultural event, opening the festival activities of the year in Nghe An province. In 2025, the festival is associated with the 1,312th anniversary of the Hoan Chau uprising.

The 2025 Mai King Temple Festival takes place from the 13th to the 15th of the first lunar month at the special national monument of Mai Hac De Tomb, Nam Dan town, Nam Dan district (Nghe An).

The festival consists of two main parts: the ceremony and the festival. The ceremony is solemnly organized, imbued with traditional cultural identity with rituals such as the grand ceremony, palanquin procession, drum beating, dragon and lion dance, chanting of funeral orations and incense offering.

Lion dance performance to celebrate the Festival.

The Great Sacrifice Ceremony is an important ceremony, expressing respect and commemorating the contributions of King Mai Hac De and his army.

The festival includes many rich cultural and sports activities such as wrestling, stick pushing, chess, cockfighting, men's volleyball, youth camp and art festival. In particular, traditional wrestling from the time of King Mai to select soldiers is still maintained and becomes a highlight attracting many tourists.

A large number of people and tourists from all over the country participated in the procession.

The procession from the temple to the king's tomb is also organized in the form of rowing on the river, creating a unique feature for the festival. In addition, the festival also has special activities such as folk song singing contest, chicken sticky rice making contest...

New this year, Nam Dan district organized many special activities such as a boat racing festival on Lam River with the participation of 6 racing teams, a Nguyen Tieu poetry night in Uncle Ho's hometown with the theme "Vietnam takes off" attracting hundreds of submissions, and an online contest to learn about the life and career of King Mai Thuc Loan.

In recent years, Nam Dan district has also organized an online contest to learn about the life and career of King Mai Thuc Loan to preserve and promote historical values ​​andeducate the young generation about patriotic traditions.

Traditional wrestling at the Mai King Temple Festival attracts thousands of participants.

These activities not only contribute to preserving and promoting historical values ​​but also educate traditions, arouse patriotism and national pride, especially in the young generation.

Mai Thuc Loan was born in the year of Canh Ngo (670), his hometown was Mai Phu village, Thien Loc district (now Mai Phu commune, Loc Ha district, Ha Tinh province). After becoming pregnant, his mother moved to Ngoc Trung village, Dong Liet commune, Nam Duong district (now Nghia Thai commune, Nam Dan district) to live.

Witnessing the people's suffering due to the harsh and exploitative occupation policy of the Tang Dynasty, with the desire to regain independence and autonomy, in the year Quy Suu 713, Mai Thuc Loan raised the flag of uprising to overthrow the ruling apparatus of the Tang Dynasty in Hoan Chau, liberated the entire Ai Chau (now Thanh Hoa) and captured Tong Binh citadel (now the capital Hanoi).

After the country was invaded by foreign invaders, Mai Thuc Loan proclaimed himself Emperor Mai Hac De, established a government apparatus from the central to local levels, and issued many important policies: abolishing the taxes imposed by the Tang Dynasty, ending tribute obligations, and regulating the land under the cultivation of each village and commune, and whoever worked would enjoy it.

The Hoan Chau uprising with 10 years of independence (713 - 723) had great significance, marking a milestone on the path of fighting for independence after 1,000 years of Chinese domination.

The uprising is a powerful historical evidence affirming the aspiration for autonomy, while contributing to encouraging and empowering generations of Nghe An people and the entire Vietnamese people in the struggle to build and defend the country.

Wrestling at King Mai Temple Festival.

 

The historical relic of Mai Hac De Temple includes the mausoleum and temple complex of Mai Hac De and Mai Thieu De in Ram valley, Hung Son mountain (also known as Dun mountain), in Nam Dan town.

This relic was established by the people many centuries ago to commemorate the contributions of Mai Hac De, Mai Thieu De (Mai Thuc Huy - son of Mai Thuc Loan) and the generals who contributed to liberating the nation, freeing it from the domination of the Tang Dynasty, contributing to building and protecting independence and autonomy for 10 years (713 - 723).

Currently, the relic site still preserves many valuable antiques, including 34 typical antiques such as royal decrees, statues, thrones and tablets.

On December 29, 2023, the Prime Minister signed a decision to rank the Temple of King Mai Hac De as a Special National Monument. This is a recognition of the great historical and cultural values ​​of the monument, while affirming the important role of the festival in preserving and promoting national traditions.

Source: https://bvhttdl.gov.vn/le-hoi-den-vua-mai-nghe-an-diem-nhan-du-lich-van-hoa-tam-linh-20250213142320116.htm