Opening of Keo Pagoda Festival in Autumn 2024

On the evening of October 12 (September 10, the year of the Dragon), the District Party Committee and People's Committee of Vu Thu district organized the opening ceremony of the Keo Pagoda Festival in the fall of 2024.

Comrade Nguyen Khac Dinh, member of the Party Central Committee, Vice Chairman of the National Assembly congratulated the opening of the festival.

Attending the event were comrades Nguyen Khac Dinh, member of the Party Central Committee, Vice Chairman of the National Assembly; Lai Xuan Lam, Standing Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of the Central Agencies Bloc. On the side of Thai Binh province, there were comrade Ngo Dong Hai, member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee; members of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee, leaders of the Provincial People's Council and People's Committee; leaders of departments, branches, sectors and mass organizations of the province. On the side of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, there was Most Venerable Thich Thanh Duc, Deputy Supreme Patriarch of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha.

Leaders and delegates attended the opening ceremony of the festival.

Keo Pagoda, whose Chinese name is Than Quang Tu, in Duy Nhat Commune (Vu Thu) is one of two special national relics of Thai Binh Province. According to the legend: In 1061, during the reign of King Ly Thanh Tong, Zen Master Duong Khong Lo built Nghiem Quang Pagoda as a place to hide, preach, and protect the country and people. The Zen Master had the merit of curing King Ly Thanh Tong's illness, so the King graciously appointed him as the National Master of the Ly Dynasty. In the year Giap Tuat (1094), during the reign of King Ly Nhan Tong, the Holy Ancestor Duong Khong Lo passed away at the age of 79. In 1167, King Ly Anh Tong issued an edict to change the name of Nghiem Quang Pagoda to Than Quang Pagoda to commemorate and show gratitude for the Zen Master's merit. In 1611, a great flood swept away the pagoda. Construction of the pagoda began in 1630 with the participation of 42 workers. After 28 months, the entire project was completed in the joy of the people. Keo Pagoda was built in the style of internal public and external foreign, with Buddha in front and Saint in the back. Currently, there are 17 structures with 128 compartments. In 2017, the traditional festival of Keo Pagoda was recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage. In 2021, the altar of Keo Pagoda was recognized as a national treasure.

Comrade Ngo Dong Hai, member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee congratulated the opening of the festival.

Most Venerable Thich Thanh Hoa, Head of the Executive Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in the province, presented flowers to congratulate the festival.

This year, the Keo Pagoda Autumn Festival is held at the district level, taking place for 8 days, from October 12 to 19 (September 10 to 17, Giap Thin year). In addition to traditional rituals such as the opening ceremony, incense offering ceremony, and the procession of the Saint, there are also restored and preserved rituals. During the festival, on all festival days, including the evening, when coming to the Keo Pagoda Festival, visitors can join in competitions, games, and folk performances. In addition, at the Keo Pagoda Festival, there are also 130 booths including commercial booths, folk food areas, exhibition areas, introducing OCOP products and key products of districts and cities in the province and many provinces and cities across the country...

Comrade Ngo Dong Hai, member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, beat the drum to open the festival.

Opening the Keo Pagoda Festival in the fall of 2024, comrade Ngo Dong Hai, member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, beat the drum to open the traditional festival.

The Head of the festival's steering committee presented a painting of Keo Pagoda to express gratitude to the businesses that sponsored the festival.

To express gratitude to the sponsors who contributed to the success of the Keo Pagoda Festival this fall, the Organizing Committee of the festival presented the sponsors with a painting of Keo Pagoda. In the opening ceremony of the festival, local people and visitors from all over watched the art program with the epic melody "Keo Pagoda - sacred origin". With a structure of 3 chapters: Legend of Keo Pagoda, Fragrance of land and love of people, Forever shining a homeland, the art program is not only a highlight in the series of activities taking place at the Keo Pagoda Festival in the fall of 2024 but also contributes to highlighting the traditional cultural, patriotic and revolutionary values of Thai Binh homeland; introducing the potential and advantages for the development of spiritual and ecological tours and routes, inviting investors to Thai Binh.