Chieu Trung Temple Festival: Commemorating the merits of Chieu Trung Dai Vuong Le Khoi

The procession of the spirit tablet to Le Khoi temple by the people of Thach Hai commune. Photo: Cong Tuong/VNA

This is a national intangible cultural heritage imbued with the beliefs of coastal people, held on the occasion of the death anniversary of Chieu Trung Dai Vuong Le Khoi.

Le Khoi was born in Lam Son commune, Thuy Nguyen (Thanh Hoa), the second son of King Le Thai To. He joined the Lam Son army to repel the invading Ming army in the early 15th century. He served as an official under three kings: Thai To, Thai Tong and Nhan Tong, making great contributions to building and protecting the Le dynasty. In 1446, Le Khoi was ordered by King Nhan Tong to lead troops to attack Champa. On the way back, he became seriously ill and passed away at the foot of Long Ngam mountain, Dinh Ban commune, Thach Ha district, Ha Tinh province. The king ordered the construction of a temple to worship him. Local people mourned and respected him, and every year they held the Chieu Trung Temple Festival on his death anniversary.

On the morning of June 19, thousands of people and tourists flocked here to admire the procession of the spirit tablet by water and road. In communes of Thach Ha district such as Dinh Ban, Thach Hai, Thach Khe, people established ritual committees to carry the spirit tablet with special rituals around Nam Gioi mountain to Le Khoi temple. In Loc Ha district, people of Mai Phu, Thach Kim, Thach Bang communes carried the spirit tablet by palanquin, parasol with hundreds of boats, flags and flowers dressed as troops heading to Le Khoi temple.

In the afternoon of the same day, after the procession of the spirit tablet to the main temple, the leaders of Thach Ha and Loc Ha districts held a solemn ceremony at the temple to report to King Chieu Trung Le Khoi and pray for the people in the region to have a prosperous life, favorable weather, and for people in coastal areas to go out to sea and enter the sea safely...

The procession of the spirit tablet to Le Khoi temple by the people of Dinh Ban commune. Photo: Cong Tuong/VNA

The 577th anniversary of the death of King Chieu Trung Le Khoi (1446 - 2023) aims to commemorate the great contributions of the talented general of the nation. Through the festival, we promote and educate the spirit of patriotism, the tradition of fighting against foreign invaders, protecting the Fatherland of our people; contribute to maintaining traditional local festivals, preserving and promoting cultural values. During this time, in the two districts of Thach Ha and Loc Ha, volleyball and football tournaments, boat racing festivals on Cua Sot took place... along with many cultural and artistic activities, creating solidarity among the masses.

Mr. Nguyen Ba Ha, Vice Chairman of Thach Ha District People's Committee, emphasized that the festival is also an opportunity for the locality to promote and boost tourism. The district combines tourism with Le Khoi Temple relic site, Quynh Vien eco-tourism area and Thach Hai beach, creating a chain of high-quality tourism products, with an open tourism space, diversifying service types.

Loc Ha district has focused on investing in developing coastal tourism connecting the Vinpearl Cua Sot luxury resort villa area with Loc Ha beach and Le Khoi temple, creating a tourist space that attracts a large number of visitors.

According to VNA

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