Visit Bach Ma Temple, the sacred temple guarding the east of Thang Long citadel

Bach Ma Temple is an ancient temple, dating back to the 9th century when our country was under the Northern Tang Dynasty (792-906). The temple was built on the land of Ha Khau ward, Huu Tuc commune, Tho Xuong district, Hoai Duc prefecture. Now it is number 76-78, Hang Buom street, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi .

Historical documents show that Bach Ma Temple was built during the Tang Dynasty when Cao Bien built La Thanh in 866, and was rebuilt when King Ly Thai To moved the capital to Thang Long in 1010.

According to legend, when King Ly Thai To moved the capital from Hoa Lu to Dai La citadel, he ordered people to expand and build ramparts, but they struggled to complete the work, and the more the ramparts were built, the more they collapsed.

The king sent a high-ranking mandarin to pray at the temple. Suddenly, he saw a white horse coming out of the temple, going around from East to West, leaving behind hoof prints, then returning to the temple and disappearing. King Ly ordered his soldiers to follow the hoof prints to complete the wall. To thank the gods for their help, the king ordered the temple to be repaired and bestowed upon the god Long Do the title of “Great King of the Capital Thang Long, the Most Spiritual and Superior God of Quang Loi Bach Ma” to guard the East of the capital.

The following kings also continuously issued similar decrees. Every year, Bach Ma Temple usually holds a festival on the 12th and 13th of the second lunar month, with the 12th day being considered the main festival.

The Bach Ma Temple Festival is held to see off the winter and welcome the new spring, praying for peace in the country and for people to live in prosperity and happiness. The festival opens with a proclamation ceremony read directly by the caretaker of Bach Ma Temple. Next, the male worship team of Bach Ma Temple will perform the Saint worship ceremony.

After the Saint worship ceremony, a life-sized buffalo model will be carried from Bach Ma temple to the Red River bank to perform the "transformation" ceremony to present the Spring Ox - an important ritual of Bach Ma temple festival. In the early afternoon, the female worship team of Bach Ma temple will offer incense to the Saint.

On the morning of the last day of the Bach Ma Temple Festival, the old men in traditional costumes of the Bach Ma Temple's male worship team gathered at the temple to perform the Saint Worship Ceremony.

In the afternoon, the male and female worshiping teams from the villages near and far to Bach Ma Temple come to perform the Saint Worship Ceremony. After the neighboring villages have finished their ceremonies, the official end of the festival is the male worshiping team's farewell ceremony at Bach Ma Temple.

In addition to the important ceremonies, there are also entertainment programs for a large number of tourists and local people such as Chau Van, Ca Tru, Cheo, Quan Ho; martial arts performances to serve the people at the outdoor stage and in the courtyard of Bach Ma Temple./.

(Vietnam+)

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