On April 7, at Quang Son Commune Stadium, Tam Diep City, the Organizing Committee of the Mau Thuong Temple - Quang Son Pagoda Festival held an art program to open the Mau Thuong Temple - Quang Son Pagoda Festival in the year of Giap Thin 2024.

The Quang Son Pagoda and Mau Thuong Temple historical and cultural relic cluster located in Tan Thuong village, Quang Son commune is not only beautiful in terms of architectural and artistic landscape but also has historical significance. Therefore, it was ranked as a provincial historical and cultural relic in 2012.

The traditional festival of the Upper Mother Temple - Quang Son Pagoda is one of the traditional folk cultural activities, which is the Mother's death anniversary (the 3rd day of the 3rd lunar month every year). This is the opening day of the festival, the biggest holiday at the temple.

According to the ancestors, in the past, on the 2nd of March every year, the villagers prepared offerings, held a ceremony to announce the opening of the festival, followed by a procession, a procession of palanquins, and a shamanic ceremony. On the 3rd of March, the female sacrificial team performed a ceremony to thank the Mother Goddess and concluded the ceremony. After that, the clans and villagers received the benefits. However, through the ups and downs of history, due to the devastating effects of war and many objective factors, the festival was not held regularly for a long time.

Clearly identifying that traditional festivals play a particularly important role in the spiritual and cultural life of the community; being a creative product demonstrating community cohesion, Quang Son commune organized the restoration of the traditional festival of Mau Thuong Temple - Quang Son Pagoda in the spring of Giap Thin in 2024 to meet the wishes and expectations of the people in the commune and visitors from all directions.

This is the first year of restoring the festival, and also the first time the festival has been held in more than 40 years since the establishment of the commune. Activities taking place during the festival include: sacrifices, ceremonies according to traditional customs, folk games, palanquin processions and cultural and artistic activities, sports... with the hope of reviving a festival with many traditional cultural features, a unique cultural and spiritual tourism product.

The festival will be held annually, as a destination in the spiritual and cultural journey, remembering the origins of the local people and visitors from all over.

Dao Hang-Anh Tu