Local people volunteering at Nguyen Trung Truc communal house. Photo: PHAM HIEU
After many vicissitudes, it wasn't until 1964 that the temple was restored and rebuilt, officially named "Nguyen Trung Truc Temple". In 1986, the late Prime Minister Vo Van Kiet called for the restoration and renovation of the tomb and temple of Nguyen Trung Truc in Rach Gia. After the restoration, the temple truly became a center for cultural activities and the education of patriotic traditions for the people.
In 1988, to commemorate the 120th anniversary of Nguyen Trung Truc's sacrifice, the government, the Nguyen Trung Truc Temple Protection Committee, and the people upgraded the scale of the event to become a prominent festival of the province. Since then, the annual Nguyen Trung Truc Festival has become a major event throughout the Southern region of Vietnam.
Folklore has long passed down a saying to remind people: "No matter where you are trading, near or far, on the anniversary of Mr. Nguyen's death, remember to come home." For the people of Southern Vietnam, returning to the festival is not only a way to show respect for a national hero who contributed to the people and the country, but also a way for children and grandchildren to express their devotion to their ancestors and grandparents.
For this reason, every year, nearly 5,000 people volunteer to help with various tasks during the Nguyen Trung Truc Festival, from preparation and cleaning the temple grounds to wrapping banh tet (traditional Vietnamese rice cakes) and preparing vegetarian dishes to offer to Mr. Nguyen and to entertain visitors from all over. Millions of visitors attending the festival don't have to worry about food and accommodation, as everything is free. There's rice, porridge, noodles, and even a vegetarian buffet, all contributed by the local people. People even receive free medical check-ups and medicine. Thousands of hammocks are provided around the temple for sleeping. In this way, people of all backgrounds—rich or poor, ethnic or religious—work together to organize, preserve, and promote the festival, making it even richer in cultural identity and tradition, and further illuminating the principle of remembering one's roots.
Participating in volunteer work at this year's Nguyen Trung Truc festival, Ms. Nguyen Thuy Hang from the A Tan tofu farm said that the tofu farm was set up for three days to supply tofu for the rice farms and to make soy milk to distribute to the people. “Each day, the farm produces about 1.3 tons of soy milk for the festival. The funding comes from our contributions and fundraising from friends and family. Everyone voluntarily joins hands to make the festival a success, because for us, Mr. Nguyen is not only a national hero but also like a grandfather in our family, so everyone does their work with the utmost respect.”
Ms. Thai Thi Kim Cuc shared: “For many years, I have come to the temple every day to volunteer, doing tasks such as drying medicinal herbs and cleaning the temple grounds… Especially on the anniversary of Mr. Nguyen's death, I dedicate more time with my siblings and nephews to serving at the ceremony. Although the work is much, I feel happy to contribute a little effort to the overall success of the festival.”
Mr. Nguyen Van Gion's rice cooking team has up to 70 people working continuously day and night. "Today, we're in charge of cooking about 40 barrels of rice (each barrel weighing 100kg). On the official day, when there are many guests, I expect to cook 70-80 barrels of rice each day. It may seem difficult, but cooking rice isn't hard at all; seeing people enjoy the rice makes us all happy," Mr. Gion said.
According to the Board for the Protection of Historical and Cultural Relics of the Tomb and Temple of Nguyen Trung Truc, the festival is attended by the people of An Giang and other provinces in the Mekong Delta. The festival's influence is growing ever wider, evolving from a simple memorial service into a major festival, with the number of participants increasing annually. The ceremonial part follows traditional rituals, and several festival activities have become indispensable components of the event. Many researchers also note that the traditional Nguyen Trung Truc festival is a unique community festival, possessing a vibrant energy in the lives of the people that few other festivals in Vietnam can match…
| As of October 15th, the Management Board of the Nguyen Trung Truc Tomb and Temple Historical and Cultural Relics had received over 130 tons of rice, over 6 tons of sugar, over 6 tons of soybeans, etc. These items will be processed and served to all pilgrims and attendees. The Board has also set up 6 food stalls, an increase of 2 compared to last year, including 2 stalls selling banh xeo (Vietnamese savory pancakes) and 2 stalls selling tofu, to serve the festival. |
Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/nhung-nguoi-giu-hon-le-hoi-a464219.html
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