TEMPLE FESTIVAL

Look Pagoda Festival takes place on the 15th day of the third lunar month every year, in Hung Long commune, Ninh Giang district, Hai Duong province, with the purpose of worshiping Buddha and Saint Nguyen Minh Khong.

Originated from the anniversary of the death of Zen master Nguyen Minh Khong in the Ly Dynasty. The Look Pagoda Festival is a major festival of the ancient Ha Hong region. To this day, this festival has entered the nation's history.

Trong Pagoda was built by Zen master Nguyen Minh Khong during the Ly dynasty in the 11th century. This pagoda worships Buddha and Zen master Nguyen Minh Khong. Trong Pagoda also has another name, Tong Pagoda, in Dai Nam Nhat Thong Chi, it is recorded as the temple of Zen master Minh Khong, surname Nguyen, self-style Chi Thanh. During feudal times, this pagoda belonged to Han Ly commune, Van Hoi district, Vinh Lai district, Ha Hong district. Since 1947, Han Ly has become a village of Hung Long commune, Ninh Giang district.

Look Pagoda was built during the Ly Dynasty. During the Nguyen Dynasty, the Minister Thuong Doan had it restored in the style of foreign internal architecture including: Three external gates, three internal gates, Giai vu,  tac mon, and model house. , nail-shaped pagoda and nail-shaped Duc Thanh temple look very massive. This work was heavily destroyed during the resistance war against the French colonialists. Up to now, only the three-entrance system and some antiques of the pagoda remain. The three-entrance gate of Look Pagoda is an artistic architectural work with unique architecture in the Nguyen Dynasty. This temple has now been restored but is still not as it was in the past.

The Look Pagoda Festival originated from the anniversary of the death of Zen master Nguyen Minh Khong in the Ly Dynasty. This is one of the biggest festivals of the ancient Ha Hong region, going down in the history of the nation. The festival lasts for 16 days, starting from March 15 to April 1.

On March 15, there will be a prayer request ceremony, a water procession ceremony, and a solemn palanquin procession to the Luoc River to take water for worship.

On the 16th, the Thanh Hoang procession and offering ceremony will be held at the pagoda.

The Chong Pagoda Festival is jointly organized by the two villages of Han Ly and Hao Khe, because since ancient times these two villages were one village. After being divided, each village had its own communal house. Han Ly communal house worships the tutelary god, the great king Duong Cat, another general of Khuc Thua Du who was instrumental in defeating the Tang invaders in the 10th century. Hao Khe communal house is the place to worship Ly Chieu Hoang, the village's tutelary god, the king. the end of the Ly dynasty. Thus, on this festival, there must be 3 sacrifices, including 2 tutelary gods and a Zen master. There is only a male worship team here, with traditional costumes including three worshipers and 16 waiters. The martial artist should avoid words such as: Le, Minh, Ung, Chieu.

The sacrificial process includes five weeks: First week: Offering incense and flowers; Second week: Offering tea; Week three: Offering the truth; Week four: Read the testament; and Week Five: Feast of Tat

After the ceremony to worship the Saint and the two Great Kings, folk entertainment will be held for 3 to 4 days.

On March 20, a procession from the East to the West is held. This ceremony has been celebrated since the construction of the three gates. The North Gate has three words written on it: Bac Dia Dau, meaning Han Ly village in the north. The southern gate has three words written on it: Nam Thien Dong, meaning Hao Khe village is a cave in the south. The procession includes: the Holy Saint palanquin, the incense bowl palanquin, 2 tutelary god palanquins, and the Holy Mother palanquin. This palanquin is carried by female bronze dancers. The procession will move to the east gate, go around two villages, and return to the west gate.

On the evening of March 25, each person will prepare a tray of food to worship at the Saint's temple and read verses about his life.

From March 26, sacrifices are made to the Tutelary God and the Saint. After the ceremony, there will be an incense offering ceremony performed by 16 members of the dance team in front of the statue of the Saint according to the rhythm of Giao Lien,  Hoa Chuc, simulating the royal dance. During the festival there are also folk performances.

On the morning of April 1, a ceremony is held to process the Tutelary God to the communal houses and end the festival.

Parting of the feast: If the offering is made of buffaloes and cows, the head will give only half to the fairy, the remaining part is divided into 3 parts, one part is given to the elderly people 60 years or older in the village, one part is given to dignitaries in the village. village, partly as a gift to writers. Meat is divided per person from moist upwards.

Every year, the Look Pagoda Festival invites delegates from Hoa Van Pagoda, Tan La Temple (Quynh Phu, Thai Binh). Tranh Temple and Trung Hoa Temple (Ninh Giang). During festivals, the people of Dao Pho in Hong Phuc commune often organize a procession to process the Tutelary God to Trong Pagoda to attend the festival, called the procession.

Today's Look Pagoda Festival is still crowded and the content is quite as rich as the old festival./.