Sacred ancient temple worshiping Saint Tran

The annual Dong An Temple Festival attracts a large number of people from Thai Nien commune and tourists from all over to come and enjoy the festival and pay their respects.

The Vietnamese people have gone through thousands of years of heroic history of fighting against foreign invaders. Many outstanding politicians, military and cultural figures who have contributed to the people and the country are forever remembered and worshiped by the people such as: Ngo Quyen, Le Loi, Quang Trung, Ly Thuong Kiet, Dinh Bo Linh, ... Among them, Tran Hung Dao stands out as an outstanding figure with talent and virtue, both literary and martial; a great personality, a military genius, whose name is associated with the glorious feat of defeating the Yuan-Mongol invaders three times, especially the Bach Dang victory. With boundless merit, after his death, Tran Hung Dao was honored by the people with the respectful name: "Duc Thanh Tran" or also known as Cuu Thien Vu De. To commemorate his merits and those of the generals and people who bravely fought against foreign invaders, people everywhere built temples to express their deep gratitude.

Young men in formal attire lead the sacrificial procession.

Offerings were sincerely prepared by the people to respectfully present to the Saint and the gods at Dong An Temple.

Dong An Temple is an ancient name with the meaning that the people are grateful to the general under the command of Hung Dao Dai Vuong - Tran Quoc Tuan, who contributed to the war to repel the Yuan - Mongol invaders to protect the northern border of the Fatherland. Although the exact age of Dong An Temple has not been determined, based on the results of archaeological excavations, many valuable historical artifacts have been discovered at the foundation of Dong An Temple dating back to the Le Dynasty (18th century). This is one of the relics worshiping Hung Dao Dai Vuong Tran Quoc Tuan and has many spiritual meanings for people for many generations.

The motifs in the Temple are exquisitely crafted, painted with gold, creating solemnity and nobility.

Having gone through many historical ups and downs, the Temple is still located on the field in Quyet Tam village, Thai Nien commune, Bao Thang district. With a strategic location along the Red River, belonging to the former Bao Thang gate, the temple is both a cultural and spiritual landmark marking the territorial sovereignty of the border area and one of the secret revolutionary activities of the Bao Thang army and people during the resistance war against French colonialism.

The statue of Saint Tran is cast from a solid block of bronze weighing more than 3,000kg, along with dozens of taels of gold that people sincerely offered during the process of cooking and casting the statue.

Secretary of the Thai Nien Commune Party Committee, Ms. Le Thi Thuy, said: Dong An Temple is a sacred temple that has been worshiped by local people for hundreds of years. Every year, at the beginning of Spring, the Temple holds a big festival to welcome local people and tourists from all over to offer incense to commemorate "Duc Ong", praying for favorable weather, bountiful crops, and prosperity for every family. The commune and local authorities are gradually upgrading the infrastructure so that the Temple will soon become a major national spiritual tourist destination.

People and tourists from everywhere come to pay their respects and join hands to build the Temple, to commemorate the great merit of Saint Tran in repelling foreign invaders and keeping the country peaceful.

As the head of the temple since 2008, Ms. Dang Thi Van, the head of the temple, shared with reporters: The temple is very sacred. When I was a child, in front of the temple was a railway connecting Lao Cai with the lowland provinces, the trees were dense and there were few people passing by. Pointing to the precious cracked ancient bell hanging in front of the altar, Ms. Van added that this bell was taken by someone, then encountered an unfortunate incident and had to be returned to the temple. The incident has not been verified, but it is proof of the people's faith in the sacredness and effectiveness of the Temple of Saint Tran.

People and tourists always respectfully turn to Dong An Temple whenever they have the opportunity to make a pilgrimage.

The Temple Management Board said that every year on January 23 (lunar calendar) is the day to hold the Dong An Temple Festival (also known as the opening of the new year); every year on August 20 (lunar calendar) is the main party day (death anniversary), for visitors from all over to come and offer incense to commemorate Saint Tran and the gods worshiped here.

Mr. Do Ngoc Son, Chairman of Thai Nien Commune People's Committee added: "With historical values ​​through archaeological work, in 2016, Dong An Temple was recognized by the Provincial People's Committee as a provincial-level historical and cultural relic. It was invested in a new solid construction according to the ancient architecture "Tien Nhat, Hau Dinh" on a planned area of ​​nearly 18 hectares. The people here are extremely excited, proud, and wholeheartedly join hands to preserve, build and develop so that the Temple will soon be worthy of being a national historical relic; creating a foundation for economic and tourism development, contributing to gradually improving the economic, cultural and social life of the people".

Every time the Temple holds a grand ceremony, the villages hold a competition to choose the village with the most unique offering tray to offer to the Saint.

With a convenient location right in the center of Bao Thang district, Dong An Temple promises to be an attractive spiritual tourist destination not to be missed when coming to experience and explore Lao Cai with many other famous relics in the district such as: Lien Hoa Pagoda (Phong Nien commune); Ngoi Bo Temple (Gia Phu commune); the famous beautiful Tien Cave in Xuan Quang commune; Dau Nhuan waterfall in Phu Nhuan commune, ... Along with the system of sacred temples of Lao Cai province such as: Ong Hoang Bay Temple, Thuong Temple, Mau Temple, Cam Temple, Quan Temple, Doi Co Temple ... These are spiritual tourist destinations that attract millions of visitors, worshipers and ritualists every year.

Source: https://daidoanket.vn/lao-cai-linh-thieng-ngoi-den-co-tho-duc-thanh-tran-10280552.html