Thai Binh: Keo Pagoda festival recognised national cultural heritage

10/30/2017 - 2:34:06 PM

Vu Thu district in the northern province of Thai Binh held a ceremony on October 29 to begin Keo Pagoda festival and receive a certificate recognising it as national intangible cultural heritage.

Buddhist offerings - a ritual of Keo Pagoda festival (Source: VNA)

The festival is held annually from the 10th to 15th day of the ninth lunar month to honour Zen Master Khong Lo (1016-1094) – founder of the Keo Pagoda.

It features religious rituals and communal activities such as Buddhist offerings, palanquin parades, love duet singing on boats, and folk games.

Speaking at the event, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Dang Thi Bich Lien asked Thai Binh province to complete a project to preserve and develop the festival.

The relic site management board and Vu Thu district authorities were asked to ensure safety and order for the festival and promote its values to visitors.

Keo pagoda was founded in 1061. After it was swept away by a flood in 1611, the pagoda was rebuilt in 1632 and most of its architectural features, including 17 structures with 128 rooms, remain until today. In 2012, it was recognised as a national special relic site.

In addition to the autumn festival, another spring festival takes place here annually on the 4th day of the first lunar month.

The pagoda attracts more than 2,500 visitors to Thai Binh every year.-

Source: VNA

3.6 Billion VND Allocated to Preserve Traditional Cultural Values of Ethnic Minorities in Lạc Sơn District

As part of Project 6 under the national target program for socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas in 2024, Lạc Sơn District, Hoa Binh province focuses on diverse and practical activities to promote the project's goal: "Preserving and promoting the beautiful traditional cultural values of ethnic groups in conjunction with tourism development."

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After 3 years of implementing Resolution No. 04-NQ/TU, dated October 11, 2021 of the Provincial Party Standing Committee on preserving and promoting the cultural heritage values of Hoa Binh province's ethnic groups in the period of 2021 – 2025 with the orientation to 2030 (NQ04), it has mobilized the participation of the entire political system, the people from all walks of life and there have been positive changes. So far, out of the 10 targets of NQ04, 3 targets have been met and exceeded the plan set for 2025. Typically, 70% of the intangible cultural heritage (ICH) of ethnic groups in the province is on the list of the national ICH items and they have been protected and restored, exceeding 20% of the proposed Resolution.