Tran Thuong Temple Festival

Tran Thuong Temple Festival Tran Thuong Temple is located in Tran Thuong village, Nhan Dao commune, now Tran Hung Dao commune, Ly Nhan district, Ha Nam province. The temple is a typical relic of Ha Nam province and the whole country, converging many historical, cultural, artistic and spiritual values, and has long been known by many people. The temple worships the national hero Duke Tiet Hung Dao Dai Vuong Tran Quoc Tuan along with his family and generals who contributed to the resistance war against the Mongol army in the 13th century.  "In August, the anniversary of my father's death, in March, the anniversary of my mother's death." For many generations, this place and other localities worship Tran Hung Dao, holding festivals in the middle of August (lunar calendar), from the 16th to 20th of the 8th lunar month, especially August 20, the day the Great King passed away. There is a folk saying: "Sinh Kiep Bac, Tran Thuong waterfall, Bao Loc's hometown". On the festival day, from Kiep Bac, Chi Linh, Hai Duong to Tran Thuong temple, Ly Nhan, Ha Nam to Bao Loc - Nam Dinh, pilgrims follow the route to worship and honor the national hero, who has been honored as a  “Saint”,  bestowing good things and hoping to do good deeds. Tran Thuong Temple holds a festival every year from August 18 to 20 (lunar calendar) attracting a large number of people and tourists from all over. During the festival, many unique and special folk cultural activities take place. These rituals both carry the meaning of praying for good rain and peaceful winds, "Winds of light, peace in the cup", "Peaceful nation and people", and remind the moral "When drinking water, remember the source". Especially since the year of Canh Do (2010), the People's Committee of Ha Nam province decided to organize a large-scale salary distribution ceremony at Tran Thuong temple on the full moon day of the first lunar month. The New Year's Salary Distribution Festival at Tran Thuong Temple aims to preserve and promote cultural heritage values, and at the same time propagate and educate the patriotic tradition of fighting against foreign invaders of our ancestors, especially during the Tran Dynasty, to encourage people to promote the moral tradition of remembering the source when drinking water. Entering the new year, everyone is enthusiastic about working, studying, and working. In 2016, Tran Thuong Temple Festival was recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage. The organization of the Festival aims to educate and promote the traditional cultural values ​​of the homeland, the tradition of fighting against foreign invaders, and the spirit of self-reliance in the work of building and protecting the Fatherland of King Hung Dao Dai Vuong Tran Quoc Tuan. At the same time, it contributes to introducing, promoting and enhancing the position of the special national relic Tran Thuong Temple to people and tourists from all over./.