HẢI DƯƠNG — A ceremony to commemorate the 717th anniversary of national hero Trần Hưng Đạo (1300-2017) and open the Côn Sơn – Kiếp Bạc Autumn Festival has been held in Chí Linh District in the northern province of Hải Dương.

The festival aims to promote the values of Côn Sơn- Kiếp Bạc national relics as well as contribute to improving the awareness of  local people in preserving and promoting the values of the national heritage.

Many activities mark the festival, including a ceremony praying for peace, a festival of flower garlands, traditional boat racing, Hải Dương Province’s seventh Water Puppetry Festival and folk games.

The highlight of this year’s festival is to pay tribute to Trần Hưng Đạo, who has been proclaimed a saint in traditional belief. The event has attracted the participation of art troupes from Hà Nội, HCM City and Cẩm Giàng and Bình Giang districts in Hải Dương Province.

At the opening of the event, the vice-chairman of the province’s People Committee, Lương Văn Cầu, delivered a speech recalling the life and career of the national hero.

Born in around 1228, Supreme Commander Trần Hưng Đạo, also known as Great King of Hưng Đạo, was a talented military leader and an excellent writer. Under the Trần Dynasty (1225-1400), he commanded the Đại Việt (Great Việt) armies to victories over three major Mongolian invasions, making him one of the most accomplished military strategists in world history. He died on the twentieth day of the eighth lunar month in 1300 at the age of 70.

Trần Hưng Đạo is honoured as a saint in Việt Nam. He is considered a bright example of patriotism and his worship has become part of the nation’s folk religion.To commemorate the hero, residents built Kiếp Bạc temple, which was recognised as a national heritage site in 1962 and a special national heritage site in 2012. 

Covering an area of more than eight hectares in Chí Linh Town, the Côn Sơn- Kiếp Bạc historical site is closely associated with the life and career of Trần Hưng Đạo and also of great poet Nguyễn Trãi (1380-1442) who was recognised as a Great Man of Culture of the World by Unesco in 1980. 

The Côn Sơn - Kiếp Bạc Spring and Autumn Festivals were recognised as national intangible cultural heritage in 2012. The Autumn Festival will last until October 9. — VNS