Dong Trieu Town People's Committee and the Quang Ninh Buddhist Management Board co-held a ceremony on Feb.5 (9th day of the 1st lunar month, 2017) to open the Ngoa Van Spring Festival 2017. The event was attended by the leaders of Quang Ninh province and Vietnam Buddhist Management Board, as well as a large number of locals and visitors.
Located on Bao Dai Mountain (Tay Son Hamlet, Binh Khe Commune, Dong Trieu Town) which was built during Tran Dynasty, Ngoa Van pagoda was recognized as the special national relic of Tran Dynasty in Dong Trieu town. The pagoda is the place where the Buddha-Emperor Tran Nhan Tong founded Truc Lam Zen Monastery and attained Nirvana. Ngoa Van Pagoda is also considered as the holy land of Truc Lam Buddhists in particular and of Vietnamese Buddhists in general.
The festival included a wide range of activities, such as sounding drums, a ceremony to pray for peace and prosperity for the people and the country; traditional folk games and art performances.
Ngoa Van Spring festival is an annual traditional event which lasts three months in Spring season. This is also a chance for the locals and visitors to honor and pay respects to King - Monk Tran Nhan Tong. It helps educate the patriotic tradition, preserve and promote cultural heritage values, while propagandizing and introducing to raise awareness of people and visitors about the important values of the special national relic site of the Tran dynasty in Dong Trieu district.
With nice weather, modern cable car system and good management, the Ngoa Van Spring Festival 2017 is expected to allure around 18,000 vistitor arrivals on the opening day.
Article by Phan Hang
