LẠNG SƠN — A palanquin procession took place on Sunday at the Kỳ Cùng Temple Festival, the biggest annual spiritual event in Lạng Sơn City in the northern province of Lạng Sơn.

During the procession, which attracted thousands of visitors, local people dressed in colourful traditional costumes and paraded through the streets of the city from Kỳ Cùng Temple to Tả Phủ Temple where they offered large bowls of incense for the two honoured mandarins Tuần Tranh and Thân Công Tài.

Tuần Tranh, a mandarin under the Trần Dynasty (1225 to 1400), has been locally regarded as a saint after being honoured as a supporter for national construction. He unfortunately was wrongfully convicted of colluding with foreign invaders in a battle that caused vast losses, and subsequently committed suicide to prove his innocence by jumping into the Kỳ Cùng River.

The highlight of the procession was a ceremony honouring Thân Công Tài, who made a great contribution to Lạng Sơn City in ancient times.

During the Lê Dynasty (1427-1789), Thân Công Tài was sent to Lạng Sơn to investigate the case and decided Tuần Tranh was innocent. He was named a saint by local people, who built the Tả Phủ Temple to worship him.

The incense ceremonies at the two temples have become the rendezvous for local people including many ethnic groups.

The Kỳ Cùng Festival, which runs from the 22nd through the 27th day of the first lunar month, aims to honour and commemorate the spirit of worshiping the Mother Goddess. It also aims to highlight the contribution of heroines and mandarins in national establishment, protection and construction in ancient times. It is an opportunity for ethnic groups to meet, have fun, sing and perform ritual prayers with the hope of a year full of happiness, prosperity and fortune.
Various traditional cultural activities including folk songs, dances and games were also held at the festival. — VNS