Exciting traditional festival of Thanh Chua Pagoda in Spring At Ty 2025

(CLO) On the morning of February 22, 2025 (ie January 25 of the lunar calendar), the traditional festival of Thanh Chua Pagoda (Cau Giay district, Hanoi ) officially took place with many special cultural activities attracting hundreds of people in the capital to participate.

Thanh Chua Pagoda was built during the Ly Dynasty before 1064 on the land of Dich Vong Hau village, Dich Vong commune, Hoai Duc district (now Dich Vong Hau ward, Cau Giay district, Hanoi city). The pagoda was ranked as a National Historical - Cultural relic according to Decision No. 100/QD dated January 21, 1989 of the Ministry of Culture (now the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism ).

Unceasingly celebrating the traditional festival of the new year 2025, picture 1 — Unique drum performance at the Traditional Festival of Thanh Chua Pagoda, Spring At Ty 2025.

In the 17th century, Mr. Nguyen Khai Trac, a native of Dich Vong Hau village, passed the second Duc Long doctoral exam (1631) under the reign of Le Than Tong and established Mai Dich village. Since then, Thanh Chua pagoda has been a communal pagoda for the people of Dich Vong Hau ward and Mai Dich ward.

Thanh Chua Pagoda is a historical relic deeply associated with the Ly Dynasty, whose representative figure was Princess Y Lan, who helped King Ly Thanh Tong and his son Ly Nhan Tong open a brilliant cultural era in the history of the nation. Historical records show that this was the place where Princess Y Lan and the Ly Dynasty kings often came to study Buddhism.

In the year of Quy Mao (1063), King Ly Thanh Tong (1023-1072) was over 40 years old and had no son. He ordered his concubine Nguyen Bong to pray for a child at Thanh Chua Pagoda. Later, Lady Y Lan became pregnant and gave birth to Prince Can Duc, later King Ly Nhan Tong (1066-1128). During the time of praying for a child, Princess Y Lan stayed at the pagoda for many days to fast, recite Buddha's name, and live in the quiet natural atmosphere of the pagoda.

The pagoda consists of many constructions such as: Tam Quan gate, bell tower, Tam Bao building, Mau temple, To temple, and Nguyen Phi Y Lan temple.

Unceasingly celebrating the traditional festival of the new year 2025, picture 2 — Hundreds of people in the capital attended the opening ceremony of the traditional festival of Thanh Chua Pagoda in the spring of At Ty 2025.

In 1959, when Uncle Ho visited the Pedagogical University I, he saw the hall built in front of the Tam Quan gate of the pagoda and suggested its demolition. That showed the concern of leaders at all levels about preserving and maintaining historical and cultural relics.

In 2016 and 2017, the pagoda was renovated with funding from the People's Committee of Cau Giay District and the contributions of the people of Dich Vong Hau Ward, Mai Dich Ward and visitors from all over the country. Therefore, the pagoda's landscape is increasingly spacious, attracting a large number of people and visitors from all over the country to visit and worship.

The traditional festival of Thanh Chua Pagoda is held on January 25 every year. The ritual part includes offering incense and flowers to Buddha and commemorating Princess Y Lan. The festival part includes folk games such as: Chess, catching eels in a jar, and blindfolded pot smashing.