Quynh Phu: Preserving the cultural beauty of spring festivals

With the belief that visiting temples at the beginning of the year brings good fortune, after the Lunar New Year, thousands of tourists from within and outside the province have come to worship and pay respects at Dong Bang Temple in An Le commune and A Sao Temple in An Thai commune (Quynh Phu district). To preserve the beauty of the spring festival culture, the management boards of the two historical sites pay close attention to the organization of the festivals.

A Sào Temple, An Thái commune (Quỳnh Phụ district).

After nearly two years under district administration, the Dong Bang Temple – dedicated to King Bat Hai Dong Dinh, who helped King Hung fight foreign invaders, attract settlers, establish villages, and build the nation from its early beginnings – has undergone a transformation. Visitors will no longer see traffic jams, crowds, or beggars; instead, the area is spacious, the pathways are clean, and spiritual activities are conducted according to tradition, earning high praise from visitors.

Mr. Pham Van Van, Head of the Dong Bang Temple Historical and Cultural Relic Management Department, said: After a long period affected by the pandemic, this year the number of visitors to Dong Bang Temple is higher. On average, there are about 8,000 - 10,000 visitors coming to worship and pay respects each day. To preserve the beauty of the festival's culture, the management board pays close attention to ensuring security and order within the temple grounds and parking areas. The management board is divided into teams, assigning tasks to each member. A central camera system monitors 24/7, and any incidents requiring resolution are handled promptly. Since the Lunar New Year, despite the large number of visitors, no incidents have occurred, and visitors are very pleased with the organization at Dong Bang Temple.

Every year, Mrs. Vu Thi Muot's family in Thanh Mien district ( Hai Duong province ), along with their relatives, visit Dong Bang Temple to offer incense and pray for health and peace at the beginning of the spring. For her, Dong Bang Temple changes significantly each year, becoming more beautiful and spacious. Mrs. Muot shared: "Compared to previous years, Dong Bang Temple is now more spacious and orderly. The pathways are clear and paved with bricks; the stalls are divided into sections, creating a spacious, clean, and solemn atmosphere; there is no longer begging or touting; offerings in the shrines and entrances are arranged in order, not piled on top of each other...; security and order are strictly enforced, so we feel very safe."

At A Sao Temple, dedicated to the national hero Tran Quoc Tuan (Hung Dao Dai Vuong), the atmosphere of the New Year festival is vibrant. Many groups of visitors and tourists from all over come to visit and offer incense. Convenient transportation, spacious grounds, and a solemn place of worship are the common impressions of visitors when they come here.

Ms. Nguyen Bich Hao, originally from Thai Binh province but having lived in Hanoi for many years, had the opportunity to visit her hometown this spring. Her family took the chance to visit A Sao Temple to offer incense. Ms. Hao shared: "Every spring when I visit my hometown, I go to worship at the two historical sites in Quynh Phu district: Dong Bang Temple and A Sao Temple. Each year, I see that the roads are now very convenient, and the scenery here is very beautiful. The places of worship at the temples and entrances are solemn. Visitors also abide by the temple's rules and regulations, refraining from burning incense and votive paper to ensure fire safety and protect the health of everyone and the community."

Tourists visit and worship at Dong Bang Temple in An Le commune (Quynh Phu district).

Over the years, in order to preserve the beautiful customs of the festival and resolutely eliminate the exploitation of the festival for superstitious practices, gambling, and wasteful spending on votive paper and offerings, Quynh Phu district has directed specialized departments and localities with historical relics to strictly implement regulations on festival organization.

Mr. Pham Hong Thai, Vice Chairman of the District People's Committee, said: To ensure that the New Year's festival activities adhere to traditional customs and practices, the district's specialized units, in coordination with communes and towns with historical sites, have developed detailed plans. These plans focus on educating visitors from all over to understand and correctly follow spiritual rituals and religious practices, and to eliminate superstition and fortune-telling. In addition, the management boards of the historical sites, in coordination with the District Police and local police, have developed security plans, deployed forces to monitor the situation, prevent and suppress crime, ensure security and order, traffic safety, and prevent fires and explosions; and handle cases of begging, soliciting for blessings, street vending, and encroachment on roads and sidewalks for selling goods in the historical site area. Businesses are strictly prohibited from selling goods not permitted by the State. The district also directs communes to regularly inspect and monitor, and promptly correct any violations if detected.

The Dong Bang Temple has been renovated to a high standard, with clear pathways and stalls arranged in separate areas, creating a spacious and clean environment.

Nguyen Cuong

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