The Seal Opening Ceremony (at midnight on the 14th day of the first lunar month) is an important ritual in the traditional Tran Temple Seal Opening Festival, including the following activities: from 22:15 to 22:40, the incense offering ceremony; from 22:40 to 23:10, the procession of the seal palanquin from Co Trach Temple to Thien Truong Temple; and from 23:15, the Seal Opening ceremony and offering of the ceremonial address.
Members of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam: Doan Hong Phong, Inspector General of the Government; Le Thanh Long, Minister of Justice ; Pham Gia Tuc, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee; Tran Quoc Cuong, Secretary of the Dien Bien Provincial Party Committee; and other delegates attending the incense offering ceremony at Tran Temple. Photo: ND Newspaper
In the sacred space of the Seal Opening Ceremony, before the altar of Trung Thien, Thien Truong Temple, central and provincial leaders respectfully offered incense to commemorate the ancestors of the Tran dynasty, expressing gratitude for the great contributions of the Tran kings and Saint Tran - National Hero Tran Quoc Tuan, deeply demonstrating the traditional moral principle of "drinking water, remembering the source" of the nation; thereby encouraging cadres and people in the province to continue the fine traditions of their forefathers, striving to study, work, create, and contribute their talents, efforts, and intellect to build a more prosperous, beautiful, and civilized homeland and country.
Central and provincial leaders offer incense to commemorate the Tran kings and Saint Tran - National Hero Tran Quoc Tuan (Hung Dao Dai Vuong). Photo: ND Newspaper
From 5:00 AM on January 15th, the Organizing Committee will distribute commemorative seals to locals and tourists at four locations: the Giải Vũ House at Thiên Trường Palace, Cố Trạch Temple, and the Exhibition House at Trùng Hoa Palace. On January 16th (February 25th), the Lunar New Year ceremony will be held at Cố Trạch Temple, followed by the offering of the ceremonial prayer.
The Spring Festival of Opening the Seal at Tran Temple carries profound humanistic significance: praying for national peace and prosperity, for peace and flourishing throughout the land, and for all families to share in the blessings of the Tran Temple seal – "Accumulating Boundless Blessings." This symbolizes the wish for all people and families to uphold family traditions, discipline, and morality, accumulating sufficient blessings so that their blessings will be lasting. This custom not only possesses deep humanistic value but also has historical educational significance, reflecting the national principle of "Drinking water, remembering the source."
The procession carrying the royal seal from Co Trach Temple to Thien Truong Temple. Photo: ND Newspaper
According to the Organizing Committee, the new feature of the 2024 Tran Temple Opening Ceremony is the organization of many vibrant cultural, artistic, and sporting activities such as: Ca Rung drum performances; playing Co Boi chess; To Tom Diem card game; lion, dragon, and unicorn dances; kite flying; Cheo singing; Van singing; Xam singing; water puppetry; organizing the "Spring Martial Arts" program, martial arts performances, wrestling competitions; art programs by art troupes from inside and outside the province; exhibition of ornamental plants, introduction of Nam Dinh OCOP products; exhibition "Thien Truong Royal Palace - Golden Milestone", exhibition "Beautiful Photos of Nam Dinh Tourism"...
Along with organizing diverse cultural and artistic activities, to create a spacious area for this year's Tran Temple Opening Ceremony, the city government has also moved all exhibition and service kiosks to Dong A Square in the central area of the Tran Temple festival. This creates a more open space within the Tran Temple grounds, ensuring solemnity and avoiding the overcrowding and pushing experienced by visitors in previous years.
According to estimates by the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Nam Dinh province, during the Tran Temple Opening Ceremony in the Spring of the Year of the Dragon 2024, approximately 170,000 visitors are expected to come to visit and travel; the occupancy rate of rooms for long-stay guests at accommodation establishments in Nam Dinh city reached 70-80%, with some hotels reaching 100%.
Security forces on duty during the Opening Ceremony. Photo: ND Newspaper
To ensure security and safety for this year's festival, Nam Dinh mobilized more than 2,500 officers, soldiers, and staff from various forces to ensure security and order, divided into 5 rings, including 4 rings directly in the Tran Temple area with nearly 40 security checkpoints, preventing overcrowding, pushing, and safety incidents during the festival.
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