Va Temple Festival

Son Tay Town and Temple Festival - The largest festival commemorating the merits of Saint Tan In the ancient Doai region, there were more than 200 relics worshiping Saint Tan Vien with many types of relics such as communal houses, temples, and shrines. Associated with that are special festivals such as: at Tuong Phieu, Mong Phu, Tay Dang, Lang Xuong temple (Phu Tho). However, the Temple Festival in Son Tay town is the biggest festival, always attracting a large number of people and tourists to participate. There is a popular saying: "The first is the Temple Festival, the second is the Na Festival, and the third is the Teacher Association". In the ancient Doai region, there were more than 200 relics worshiping Saint Tan - who devoted his entire life to the life and well-being of all people, with many types of relics such as communal houses, temples, and shrines. Associated with that are special festivals such as: at Tuong Phieu, Mong Phu, Tay Dang, Lang Xuong temple (Phu Tho). However, Son Tay Town Temple Festival is the biggest festival. Son Tay Town and Temple Festival takes place twice a year, which is the January festival, from January 14 to 17 of the lunar calendar and the Fish Fighting Festival on September 15 of the lunar calendar. In particular, the January festival takes place on a large scale and is solemnly organized. As usual, every 3 years, in even-numbered years, the government and people hold the main ceremony, which is in the years of the Rat - Horse - Cat - Rooster. On this occasion, people in a village and 7 residential groups in Son Tay (wards: Phu Thinh, Vien Son and Trung Hung, Son Tay town and Duy Binh village, Vinh Tuong district - Vinh Phuc) met together to organize the procession. The highlight of the festival is the procession of dragon thrones and tablets of the Trinity from Va Temple through the streets of Son Tay town and across the Red River to Ngu Doi Temple (Vinh Tuong, Vinh Phuc) for worship. When gathering and performing rituals in the Ngu Doi Temple area, the procession including all subjects are immersed in a sacred, proud, joyful, and excited atmosphere. The time goes on until the four sacred flags are seen in the wind and the tail of the flag is blown to the South (on the other side of the river), then the priests summon the palanquin for the offering and the procession back to the Temple and leave it in front of the front yard. During the procession of the palanquin procession from the temple yard through the neighborhoods of Son Tay town, every house and communal house - where the palanquin passes through - prepares a tray to welcome the palanquin; Children and adults all take advantage of every minute to crawl through the palanquin to get blessings and good luck. At intersections and street intersections, the procession conducts the palanquin turning ceremony. The festival at Va Temple has a traditional educational nature, demonstrates the moral spirit of remembering the source when drinking water, arouses national pride, has pervasive power and great and profound humanistic significance. It is not only a tribute to Thanh Tan's contributions to the people and country, but also represents the wishes of millions of people at home and abroad for a prosperous, happy life, a developed country, and a prosperous society.