FESTIVAL OF CUONG QUOC CONG NGUYEN XI TEMPLE

Thái sư Cương quốc công Nguyen Xi was born in the year of Ding Buffalo in Thuong Xa Village, Chan Phuc district, now known as Khanh Hop commune, Nghi Loc district, Nghe An province. He was one of the first founders of the country under the Le Dynasty. In 1465, Nguyen Xi died at the age of 69. After his death, King Le Thanh Tong posthumously awarded him the title of "Thái sư cương quốc công, đặc ân khai quốc, Thuỵ  nghĩa vụ". On 31 December 2020, the Prime Minister issued Decision No. 2280/QD-TTg on ranking of 07 special national monuments, of which Nghe An province has the mausoleum and Nguyen Xi temple relic in Khanh Hop commune, Nghi Loc district, Nghe An province. This is an architectural complex bearing the traditional imprint of Vietnamese culture.

According to the timeline, Nguyen Xi temple festival has developed into a festival imbued with regional and regional cultural identity. Every year,  there are 8 main festivals at the monument, of which the biggest one is the festival of Cuong Quoc Cong Nguyen Xi temple, lễ Tiếu trai đàn (offerings of fasting and intercession for the souls of the dead who have no one to worship, have no place to rely on, are stranded in the water and on land) and the death anniversary of Cuong Quoc Cong Nguyen Xi. The festivals are solemnly held on a large scale, imbued with the traditional cultural identity of Nghe, attracting a large number of descendants and people from all parts of the country to admire and celebrate.    

1. Festival of Cuong Quoc Cong Nguyen Xi temple (victory celebration festival and peace praying ceremony)

  Temple Festival of Cuong Quoc Cong Nguyen Xi is held on 30 January -:- 01 February of the lunar calendar every year.

This is the largest festival in Nghi Loc district and one of the 25 key festivals of Nghe An province, so it is very interested by all levels, branches of the province and district. After the full moon of January, the festival atmosphere becomes more and more bustling throughout the village, sections begin to prepare, practice the sacrifice team, chess, drums, practice art, practice sports, and prepare dress.…

Activities of festival are organized in a joyful, healthy, safe and economical manner, which meets the needs of the people's cultural activities and attracting more and more tourists to the relic..

2. Lễ tiếu trai đàn (offerings of fasting and intercession for the souls of the dead who have no one to worship, have no place to rely on, are stranded in the water and on land)

Lễ tiếu trai đàn is held on 16 June 16 of the lunar calendar every year. Legend has it that this festival dates back to the time when Nguyen Xi was still alive, so this festival has been maintained by descendants and people until today.

Every year, from 15 -:- 16 June of the lunar calender, temple's management board invites monks to set up a vegetarian altar, chant Buddhist prayers, repent, and pray for the souls of the soldiers who sacrificed themselves for the country. This is also an expression of interference of ideas of three religions (Confucianism, Buddha, Taoism).

3. The death anniversary of Cuong Quoc Cong Nguyen Xi

 The death anniversary of Thai su Cuong Quoc Cong Nguyen Xi is held on two days from 29 -:- 30 October of the lunar calendar every year.

* 29 October:

The reporting ceremony is performed according to local traditional rites, offering 3 times of wine, including the following basic steps: fix up the outfit, prepare musical instruments, check offerings again, check wine and tea, burning incense, salute the god, offer wine, read worship text, offering wine in 2nd time, pour tea, thanks god.

* 30 October:

The main ceremony is conducted from 8 am to 10 am. The main ceremony was held solemnly and methodically with full of traditional rituals. Every row has their own offerings. Attending the ceremony, there were officials, dignitaries, elders, descendants, people and visitors.  

The death anniversary of Thai Su Cuong Quoc Cong Nguyen Xi is also an opportunity for descendants and people to remember the merits of the heavens and the sea and review the heroic and indomitable traditions of their ancestors.