CUA TEMPLE FESTIVAL – NGHI LOC DISTRICT

Cua temple Cultural and Historical Relic in Nghi Khanh commune, Nghi Loc district, Nghe An province, also known as Khanh Due Temple, was built in the 13th century, worshiping Quoc Mau Au Co, Cao Son, Cao Cac, Tam Toa Thanh Mau and other talented people who have contributed to the cause of fighting foreign invaders to protect the country such as Chieu Minh Vuong - Senior Lieutenant General Tran Quang Khai, General Ninh Ve, Duke Nguyen Canh Que, Danh Pho Phung Thoi Ta... In addition, at the temple, there is also a Buddhist worship space creating a unique belief.

Cua temple festival is a traditional folk festival held on the 3rd March at the lunar calender every year in order to pay tribute to the gods who inspired the nation to help the people, and historical figures who have had merit in fighting foreign invaders, expanding their borders, and building their homelands and villages. Every year, tourists from all over the country and people in the region come back to Cua temple to attend the Mau's death anniversary, the ceremony takes place with rituals such as the inauguration ceremony, the announcement ceremony and the great sacrifice ceremony. In addition to ritual activities, at Cua Temple, there are many folk games such as chess, tug of war, volleyball and cultural performances among hamlets of Nghi Khanh commune, attracting a large number of visitors and people.

The festival was held with a variety of activities in both the ceremony and the festival, attracting a large number of people to participate. After a long interruption, in 2010, People's Committee of Nghe An province issued a decision to organize Cua temple festival periodically every year. The maintenance of the organization of Cua temple festival is a necessary work, pleasing to the people, which has great significance in educating the good traditions of the nation, promoting the value of relics well, meeting the needs of enjoying and creating cultural values of the local people, contributing to the protection of cultural heritages. and create cultural values of local people, contributing the protection and construction of an advanced Vietnamese culture imbued with national identity in the spirit of Resolution of the 5^th Central Committee - 8^th term and the 9^th Party Central Committee's Resolution - 11^th term on building and developing Vietnamese culture and people to meet the requirements of sustainable development of the country.

         Returning to Cua temple festival is to return to the original culture of the nation, which evokes the race of "Children of the Dragon, Grandchildren of the Immortal", to the heroic years of the forefathers fighting against foreign invaders to protect the country, from there, each person will strengthen their strength and faith in studying and working, contributing to building a richer, more beautiful and civilized homeland.