The Nguyen Trung Truc festival opens up opportunities for cultural and spiritual tourism.

Locals visit a model simulating the battle that sank the small gunboat L'Espérance at Nhựt Tảo estuary, commanded by national hero Nguyễn Trung Trực. Photo: TRUNG HIẾU

The Nguyen Trung Truc Temple Festival in Rach Gia, also known as the traditional festival commemorating the sacrifice of national hero Nguyen Trung Truc, takes place from the 26th to the 28th of August in the lunar calendar every year. It aims to honor the contributions, talents, and virtues of this national hero, and to educate the younger generation about the tradition of patriotism and the indomitable spirit of resistance against foreign invaders and the protection of the country.

This year, the festival will be held over three days, from October 17th to 19th. Traditional ceremonies will be held annually at the Nguyen Trung Truc communal house. The festival will also feature many cultural activities, including the display of OCOP products, tourism promotion, and artistic performances, aiming to create a vibrant atmosphere and spread local cultural values to a wide audience of locals and tourists.

According to Deputy Director of the Department of Culture and Sports Nguyen Diep Mai: “The unique aspect of the festival is its community cohesion, demonstrated through the voluntary and benevolent spirit of the people participating, contributing to the preservation and promotion of traditional cultural values associated with socio-economic development; highlighting the role of the people as the main actors in the festival's activities; and promoting national sovereignty , border protection, and the protection of the country's seas and islands.”

The festival is known as a unique cultural and religious feature in the Mekong Delta region. Every year, during the festival, millions of people from all over come to the temple to offer incense to Mr. Nguyen, expressing their devotion and praying for good fortune and blessings for their families.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Be Nam, residing in Hong Ngu ward (Dong Thap province), said: “Every year, my family and I attend the Nguyen family's memorial service. The atmosphere is lively and joyful, attracting many visitors from all over. Especially, at the festival, people are treated to free vegetarian dishes and drinks. This is a very meaningful charitable act that demonstrates the spirit of mutual support and solidarity among people.”

According to Ms. Nguyen Diep Mai, in order to further enhance the value of the festival in the new context, the culture and sports sector will continue to implement many comprehensive solutions to preserve, protect, and promote the cultural value of the traditional festival commemorating the sacrifice of national hero Nguyen Trung Truc, linking it with the development of culture, tourism, and the education of patriotic traditions for the younger generation.

The sector continues to preserve, restore, and properly practice traditional festival rituals, ensuring solemnity and adherence to customs and traditions, expressing reverence for the national hero Nguyen Trung Truc. At the same time, it aims to improve the quality of the festival's organization to create a vibrant atmosphere, attract a large number of people and tourists, thereby linking the preservation of cultural values with the development of local tourism and promoting the image of "An Giang - Land - People".

Strengthening propaganda on civilized conduct during festivals, ensuring safety, order, environmental hygiene, and the protection of historical sites; educating about patriotic traditions through activities before, during, and after the festival; encouraging union members, youth, students, and university students to learn about the life, career, and indomitable spirit of national hero Nguyen Trung Truc. Promoting the role of the community in heritage preservation, mobilizing people to actively and voluntarily participate in activities serving the festival, demonstrating solidarity and contributing to the preservation of national cultural identity.

“The culture and sports sector continues to coordinate with local authorities, agencies, and units to build sustainable festival management and exploitation models, linked to the socio-economic development of the locality. At the same time, we will strengthen cooperation, exchange, and promotion of festivals to expand tourism linkages between localities in the Mekong Delta region and the whole country, thereby enhancing the status and value of heritage in the cultural and spiritual life of the people,” Ms. Nguyen Diep Mai shared.

LOYALTY

Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/tu-le-hoi-nguyen-trung-truc-mo-huong-du-lich-van-hoa-tam-linh-a464486.html