March is the anniversary of the death of Mother Goddess Tien La.

Việt Nam•17/04/2024

During the third lunar month, the people of Hung Ha district in particular, and visitors from all over in general, are turning their attention to the ancient land of Da Cuong, the place of worship for General Vu Thi Thuc, a national heroine who saved the country and its people from the yoke of the Eastern Han army. Proud of its rich historical tradition, the people of the district still pass down the folk song, "As children of mother and father, we return in the third month for the anniversary of Mother Tien La's death."

The unique procession of the Holy Mother at the Tien La festival.

Tien La Temple is a place of worship dedicated to General Vu Thi Thuc, a female general under the Trung Sisters. Her glorious victories have been recorded in history and are honored, praised, and preserved by generations of Vietnamese people. Located on both banks of the Tien Hung River, the temple, dedicated to the Holy Mother General Vu Thi Thuc, boasts a majestic and splendid architecture, befitting the immense contributions of this national heroine. It has become one of the district's cultural and spiritual tourism highlights.

Mr. Dang Vu Tran Nha, the caretaker of Tien La Temple, said: Tien La Temple was recognized as a national historical and cultural relic in 1986. The temple is located on an area of nearly 3 hectares, built in the ancient "front-facing, rear-shaped" architectural style. The front of the temple faces the Tien Hung River, with a majestic two-tiered triple-arched gate. Outside the gate are many stone statues of horses, elephants, and female soldiers, some drawing swords, others holding sword hilts, standing solemnly, reminiscent of the glorious era of a thousand years ago. Here, there are also large inscriptions praising the Trung Sisters' dynasty and the virtues, talents, and beauty of the female generals, as well as many valuable ceremonial artifacts with high aesthetic value, dating back to the Le Dynasty. After many renovations, Tien La Temple now has a large scale and is distinctive in both its location and appearance. During the Lunar New Year and the Tien La Temple festival, thousands of locals and tourists come here to offer incense and admire the scenery.

With a history spanning approximately 2,000 years, Tien La Temple is one of the few temples with the most magnificent stone architecture in the Red River Delta. The uniqueness of its architectural art and the mystical sacredness of Kim Quy Hill, where the temple is located, create a powerful attraction, embodying the humanistic values in the Vietnamese Mother Goddess worship tradition.

According to ancient tradition, the 10th day of the 3rd lunar month is the annual opening day and occasion for the Tien La Festival. This is an opportunity for people from all walks of life in Hung Ha, as well as compatriots and tourists from all over the country to come here to offer incense and pay tribute to the national heroine.

Mr. Bui Ngoc Minh, a tourist from Ho Chi Minh City, shared: "Every year, as the anniversary of the Mother Goddess approaches, my family returns to our hometown to light incense and pray for everyone's health. Each time we visit Tien La Temple, we are very impressed by the hospitality of the local people and admire the spiritual and architectural values of the temple. Especially, learning about the long-standing cultural values of our nation makes me even more proud and love my homeland and country even more."

This year's Tien La Festival has the theme: "Tien La Sacred Site," aiming to depict the life and career of General Vu Thi Thuc of Dong Nhung. Notably, this year's Tien La Festival will not include the water procession but will focus on various festivities such as: a rice cake pounding competition, a folk opera club festival; betel leaf making; flag-waving, firecrackers, folk singing festival, tug-of-war, etc.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Tuyet from Tien La village said: "From young people to middle-aged people to the elderly, everyone shares the same excitement and enthusiasm to participate in the festival. This year, I continue to participate in the rituals and the rice cake pounding and betel leaf preparation competitions, hoping to offer the Mother Goddess the most delicious and meaningful offerings."

Mr. Nguyen Van Mai, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Doan Hung commune, said: On April 15, 2016, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism included the Tien La Festival in the list of national intangible cultural heritage. This is an important highlight and a great source of encouragement for us to continue striving to preserve and promote the value of the complex of relics dedicated to General Dong Nhung for generations to come. With a series of rich activities, harmoniously combining tradition and modernity, showcasing the unique culture of Long Hung and Hung Ha districts, the Tien La Festival will take place from April 18-22, 2024. Maintaining the organization of the festival aims to demonstrate the principle of "drinking water, remembering the source," commemorating and expressing gratitude for the great contributions of General Dong Nhung; and at the same time, contributing to promoting the potential and strengths of tourism development in Thai Binh province.

Throughout history, time has not diminished the people's faith in the Goddess Tien La. With its historical value and unique architecture, Tien La Temple is a meaningful cultural and spiritual tourism destination, contributing to promoting the beauty of Hung Ha district in particular and Thai Binh province in general to a wide range of visitors. At the same time, it educates the younger generation about patriotism and pride in the heroic and indomitable struggle against foreign invaders of the Vietnamese people.