RU GAM TEMPLE FESTIAL – YEN THANH DISTRICT

Gam temple - pagoda is located in the complex of Ru Gam eco-spiritual tourist area - Xuan Thanh commune, Yen Thanh district, this is one of the unique religious belief works. Gam temple was built during the Tran Dynasty to worship the gods who had merits to protect the nation and protect the people and bring a peaceful life for people such as Cao Son, Cao Cac, Sat Hai Dai Vuong Hoang Ta Thon, Ly Nhat Quang, and Four Female Saints and Ly Thien Cuong. Gam pagoda belongs to Truc Lam Zen sect - a Zen lineage founded by Buddha Emperor Tran Nhan Tong.

Gam pagoda, the word name is Chi Linh Tu, which means Chi Linh pagoda, a very sacred ancient pagoda in this Yen land of Nghe An. At what stage was the pagoda formed, how was it built, on what scale, there is currently no clear historical source. Only know that, in the geographical history of Nghe An province in general and Yen Thanh in particular, every feudal era mentioned the name of the pagoda. 

The name is Gam pagoda, because the pagoda is located in the old Ke Gam village (now belonging to hamlet 6, Xuan Thanh commune), so the name of the pagoda is given to the village. There is also a legend that: Yen Thanh is a district specializing in monoculture of wet rice, so the farming conditions of most people at that time were still backward, dependent on nature. Many years of great drought, the villagers went to the nearby Phuong Son mountain to dig up Hoai Son bulbs, pick wild fruits to eat. In the mountain, there is a climbing plant called Gam tree giving bunches of fruit, a oval-shaped fruit containing a lot of starch to eat instead of food. In the years of bad harvest, villagers and other places went to the mountains to pick Gam fruit and bring them home to cook to pass the time of poverty. In the crops of many fruits, people pick them and dry them for storage such as corn, potatoes, and cassava. In gratitude to the village, thanks to the mountain giving this tree and fruit to save people in times of famine and Giáp hạt (in the period when the old rice has been eaten, the new rice has not yet ripened). People in the region have named the mountain, village name is Gắm village, Gắm mountain. But the process of Sinicization and transliteration deviated into "Gám". Another opinion is that: To avoid the alia name of the sacred tree, the word "Gắm" should be changed to "Gám", and Gam pagoda also got its name from there.

Every year, from 13th -:- 15th February of the lunar calendar, the locality organizes a traditional festival to educate patriotism, contribute to preserving and promoting the good values of the homeland, at the same time, meet the needs of the cultural and spiritual life of the people and tourists from all over the country.

The festival is held solemnly and sacredly with traditional rites such as: Inauguration ceremony, Holy procession from Ru temple, reporting ceremony, procession ceremony, reception ceremony, great sacrifice ceremony, thanksgiving ceremony and peace prayer ceremony.

The festival took place many exciting activities such as: Mass performances; drumming contest; women's volleyball tournament, men's volleyball of strong teams; performamnce of Nhat Nam martial arts, VIVONAM and compete in table tennis. Along with that are folk games such as tug of war, pushing sticks; card flags; blindfolding & smashing earthen pots and caught pigs ...