Quang Yen town ready for Tien Cong festival
Annually held in the town of Quang Yen on February 16 (or the seventh day of the first lunar month), Tien Cong festival is one of the biggest traditional festivals of Quang Yen town aiming at commemorating the 17 founding fathers who built dykes, created the populated island. So far, the preparatory tasks for this important festival have almost been accomplished in Quang Yen.
Recognized as national intangible cultural heritage since 2018, Tien Cong temple festival welcomes thousands of locals and visitors each year.
The legend said that the festival opening day was the day founding fathers discovered underground fresh water on the island, more than 500 years ago.
On the main festive day at Tien Cong Temple, dignitaries will present themselves to the founding fathers, and then choose four elderly men to assist them in the ritual of ground-breaking.
On the seventh day, the senior men of the village (all older than 70 years old), along with their children and grandchildren, arrive at the temple. The young people carry offerings (include betel and areca, wine, steamed glutinous rice, chicken or the head of a pig) on their heads to the decorative cult tables. The elderly men follow them, if need be, aided by their offspring.
Every family makes its own procession. All processions join together near the temple make a jubilant and animated atmosphere but still sacred.
Currently, registered families are preparing for their ritual of carrying their seniors in a procession to the town's Tien Cong Temple as a way of worshiping ancestors.
"Ceremoniously taking the elders to the temple is an act of gratitude to those settlers. There will be over 100 seniors aged 80, 90 and 100 who will be ceremoniously carried to temples", said Chairwoman of the People's Committee of Cam La commune."
The festival will also include the ground-breaking ritual and traditional games namely buffalo fighting, cock fighting, human chess, swinging, popular opera performance, etc.
Tien Cong temple festival welcomes thousands of locals and visitors each year.
