Traditionally, on January 18 and 19 every year, people in Van Hoa quarter, Ngoc Lac town (Ngoc Lac) and people from neighboring Muong areas organize the Ban Bu cave water procession festival.
Procession at Meo Pagoda festival.
According to historical records, during the resistance war against the Ming army, this place was the shelter and gathering place for soldiers of the Lam Son insurgents. Ban Bu Stream was the outer defense line that helped Le Loi and his insurgents defeat the Ming army many times. After the uprising was successful, Ban Bu Cave was granted a royal decree by King Le Thai To. Since then, the Ban Bu Cave water procession festival has always been preserved and promoted.
In Lang Chanh town (Lang Chanh), Meo Pagoda, also known as Mieu Thien Tu, was built in the 13th century under the Tran Dynasty. At that time, the pagoda was called Chu Pagoda, and was known as one of the three largest pagodas in Thanh Hoa. When raising the flag of Lam Son uprising, Le Loi and his army entered Chu Pagoda to pray for the victory of the resistance. At the end of the uprising, Le Loi issued a decree to change the name of Chu Pagoda to Meo Pagoda. Currently, Meo Pagoda is a historical, cultural, and scenic relic at the provincial level, a spiritual and cultural tourist destination of the province.
The Meo Pagoda Festival is held on the 6th and 7th of January every year with many religious, cultural and sports activities imbued with the culture of the ethnic groups in the district. Through the festival, people commemorate and show gratitude to those who have contributed to the country, pray for health, prosperity and good crops.
With the tradition and morality of “When drinking water, remember its source”, in early spring, festivals of ethnic minorities in many mountainous areas of Thanh Hoa took place enthusiastically. Most of the festivals are associated with historical events, commemorating national heroes, so the games and performances often have a martial spirit; the rituals in the festivals are organized solemnly, sacredly and respectfully.
The festival is not only for people to commemorate those who have contributed to the country, but also an occasion for people to have fun, compete, and pray for favorable weather and good crops. Typical of these festivals are: Thi communal house festival of Tho ethnic people in Nhu Xuan district; Trung Tuc Vuong Le Lai incense offering ceremony in Thanh Son village, Kien Tho commune (Ngoc Lac); the sacred fish procession ceremony (also known as Khai Ha ceremony in Cam Luong commune, Cam Thuy district); Cua Dat temple festival (Thuong Xuan); Phu Na festival (Xuan Du commune, Nhu Thanh district)...
Article and photos: Khanh Linh
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