THE EARLIEST EARLIEST WHO RECLAIMED AND ESTABLISHED THE MARKET
According to historical sources, in the early years of King Gia Long's reign, Mr. and Mrs. Do Cong Tuong (also known as Lanh) came from the Central region to settle down in My Tra village (formerly Cao Lanh city, Dong Thap province). With his upright character and well-off family, he was appointed by the villagers to hold the position of Cau Duong, to arbitrate disputes.
The Worship Committee of the Temple of Mr. and Mrs. Do Cong Tuong performed the Nghinh Sac Ceremony according to traditional folk rituals. |
They reclaimed the wasteland, planted tangerines, and this place gradually became a bustling trading center. Seeing that buyers and sellers had no place to stay in the sun and rain, they built bamboo huts, forming the first market, later called Vuon Quyt market, Ong Cau market or Cau Lanh - the name associated with the place name Cao Lanh today.
In the year of Canh Thin (1820), when cholera raged throughout the My Tra region, causing the deaths of many people, Mr. and Mrs. Do Cong Tuong set up an altar, vowed to die in place of the people and prayed for the end of the epidemic. After 3 days of fasting and asceticism, she died on the 9th of June (lunar calendar) and he also passed away on the 10th. Strangely, the cholera epidemic gradually subsided.
To commemorate their boundless merits, the people built a temple to worship them, called the Temple of the Market Owner. About 3 years later, the people discussed moving the temple to a location about 50 meters from the grave to build a larger temple (the current location of the temple) for convenient worship.
In 1963, the people contributed money to renovate the facade and the gate, painting it beautifully. Through the process of existence, restoration and embellishment, the relic is now an architectural complex including: Temple, guest house, tomb, built with solid materials, decorated, carved majestically, splendidly in the architectural style of the Nguyen Dynasty, typical of communal houses and temples in the South, so the relic is classified as a historical and architectural art relic.
Deputy Head of the Worship Committee of the Temple of Mr. and Mrs. Do Cong Tuong, Nguyen Phu Long, said that the Temple and Tomb of Mr. and Mrs. Do Cong Tuong located in Cao Lanh Ward were awarded the Golden Board of "Top 100 typical cultural and spiritual tourist destinations - 2014" by the UNESCO Center; in 2019, the tomb and temple of Mr. and Mrs. Do Cong Tuong were ranked as a National Historical and Cultural Relic, affirming the great value of this relic in the history and spiritual life of the people; at the same time, the name of Mr. and Mrs. Do Cong Tuong was given to the school in Cao Lanh Ward (Do Cong Tuong High School). Every year, the Memorial Ceremony of Mr. and Mrs. Do Cong Tuong is solemnly held, with an increasingly large scale and many new features.
ANNIVERSARY FESTIVAL IMMERSED WITH CULTURAL IDENTITY
Every year, the local government organizes the death anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. Do Cong Tuong on the 8th, 9th, and 10th of June (lunar calendar). After the administrative unit merger, the 205th death anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. Do Cong Tuong was solemnly organized by the People's Committee of Cao Lanh Ward with many cultural, artistic, sports and diverse tourism connection activities, creating a meaningful festival space, contributing to promoting the image, spiritual cultural values of Cao Lanh land and folk art to visitors from near and far.
Head of the Temple's Worship Committee, Mrs. Do Cong Tuong Nguyen Anh Tuan said: "The 205th anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. Do Cong Tuong's death is being held on a larger scale than in previous years. Every year, the death anniversary attracts about 80,000 people from inside and outside Dong Thap province to pay their respects. Compared to previous years, this year there were about 10,000 people attending the death anniversary, showing the deep attachment and respect of the people for Mr. and Mrs. Do Cong Tuong. |
Mrs. Huynh Thi Kim So (74 years old, living in Thap Muoi commune) shared: “Every year, on the occasion of the death anniversary of the Cao Lanh market owner, my relatives and friends come to pay their respects. I pray for peace in the country and good health for myself and my family.”
This year, the People's Committee of Cao Lanh Ward organized the Anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. Do Cong Tuong with many special programs and many new features. Accordingly, the Art Program and Lantern Festival with the theme "Hundred years of origin" is a particularly meaningful activity, a unique and new artistic and cultural highlight in the series of anniversary events.
The temple of Mr. and Mrs. Do Cong Tuong located on Le Loi Street, Cao Lanh Ward, Dong Thap Province has been ranked as a National Historical - Cultural Relic. |
In addition to the elaborate and beautifully staged performances and art programs, the festival was also organized on an impressive scale, notably the Lantern Map - simulating the shape of the new Dong Thap province, lighting up landmarks with hundreds of sparkling lanterns, symbolizing the solidarity and development of 102 communes and wards across the province.
Along with that, the flower lantern models are meticulously and skillfully designed, simulating famous products of Dong Thap as a subtle introduction to Dong Thap - a land of love, diligence, creativity and rich potential.
Another highlight, Cao Lanh Ward People's Committee arranged "Space for displaying and introducing OCOP products, typical products of Dong Thap province" on Hai Ba Trung street connecting with Le Loi street, which is also one of the new points, attracting tourists to promote and introduce OCOP products, typical rural industrial products, start-up products, typical products of Dong Thap province to people and tourists.
At the same time, this is also an opportunity for organizations, businesses and cooperatives from 102 new communes and wards in the province to meet, exchange, learn, promote their local specialties and have new directions for production and business development.
Vice Chairman of Cao Lanh Ward People's Committee Ho Hue Thu Hang said: "The local government continues to preserve and restore historical and cultural relics associated with Mr. and Mrs. Do Cong Tuong. The death anniversary is an important cultural and spiritual event, aiming to propagate, educate and create conditions for everyone to express their respect and remember the merits of Mr. and Mrs. Do Cong Tuong for reclaiming wasteland and helping people in the early days of land reclamation and opening up the country."
Tourists come to attend the death anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. Do Cong Tuong and visit and take souvenir photos with miniature landscapes recreating the old space, contributing to promoting Dong Thap culture. |
On each anniversary, local authorities, people, and business communities near and far not only join hands to carry out many charitable activities and accompany in organizing the anniversary to show gratitude to Mr. and Mrs. Do Cong Tuong for their contributions to the people, but also become an indispensable part of the spiritual life of Cao Lanh people, especially those who trade at Cao Lanh market, always praying for Mr. and Mrs. Do Cong Tuong to bless them with good sales and prosperous business.
Small traders at Cao Lanh Market voluntarily contribute money and labor to prepare food, drinks, and make banh tet to serve free to tourists. Ms. Vo Thi Hanh, a trader, said: “For more than 10 years, we have voluntarily contributed to make free bread and drinks for people who come to attend the memorial service of the market owner. This is our way of showing our gratitude and praying for his blessing for smooth trading.”
Chairman of Cao Lanh Ward People's Committee Bui Quoc Nam said: "Through the death anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. Do Cong Tuong, the local government would like to express our sincere respect, admiration and deep gratitude for the great contributions and sacrifices of Mr. and Mrs. Do Cong Tuong and our predecessors.
The newly established Cao Lanh Ward is an honored locality to continue and take charge of organizing the death anniversary of our ancestors - one of the great and meaningful tasks of our homeland Dong Thap. The new government will always remind each other of the responsibility to continue and promote their role, meeting the expectations and trust of the people."
The death anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. Do Cong Tuong has been held 205 times, not only as an occasion to pay tribute to the merits of our ancestors, but also as an indispensable part of the spiritual life of the people of Dong Thap. Through each death anniversary, the local government and people always show their respect and determination to continue and promote the good cultural and ethical values that Mr. and Mrs. Do Cong Tuong left behind.
DUONG UT
Source: https://baoapbac.vn/van-hoa-nghe-thuat/202508/tam-long-nguoi-dan-dong-thap-voi-ong-ba-do-cong-tuong-1047745/
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