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The Nguyễn Trung Trực festival is the largest traditional cultural festival in Kiên Giang province, featuring numerous grand and solemn activities that create remarkable and impressive highlights. Every year, the festival attracts a multitude of visitors for worship, exploration, and shopping.
Joining the famous Nguyễn Trung Trực festival throughout Kiên Giang.
The Nguyễn Trung Trực festival is a traditional cultural celebration showcasing outstanding humanity and high social involvement. The festival takes place in Rạch Giá city, Kiên Giang province, from the 26th to the 28th of the 8th lunar month every year at the Nguyễn Trung Trực temple. Being a major festival of the province, it attracts a diverse crowd of locals and visitors from all around.
This festival is organized to express profound respect for the national hero Nguyễn Trung Trực. It is a time for locals and international tourists to gather and partake in the festivities.
The Nguyễn Trung Trực festival consists of two parts. The first part is the ceremonial section of the festival. The temple's abbot or management committee will perform flag raising, pray for safety and divine favor, offer incense, invoke the spirit, present offerings to officials... and many other ceremonial rituals. Afterward, local residents can enter the temple to offer incense to Mr. Nguyễn, expressing gratitude and seeking blessings for good fortune and prosperity for their families. As this is a ritual of profound respect, the atmosphere of this festival is quite solemn and serene.
Following the ceremony, the temple gates will expand to welcome people for sightseeing and lighting incense. Especially within the temple courtyard, various entertaining activities like lion dance, singing, and traditional games will take place. Moreover, a lively market offers a diverse range of affordable items for locals to choose as gifts for their families and friends. Although the festival concludes, the market will continue for a few weeks, allowing those who haven't made purchases to visit in the following days for further exploration and shopping.
Additionally, before the official day of the Nguyễn Trung Trực festival, people from all around come here to contribute, collectively renovating the temple, setting up camps, and building stoves to express gratitude to Mr. Nguyễn. Interestingly, millions of people visiting the Nguyễn Trung Trực temple during the festival days receive free meals, accommodation, and even free medical check-ups and treatment. On average, each festival period serves over 1 million meals at the temple, featuring a menu inclusive of vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes, ensuring food safety and hygiene. In years with an overwhelming number of participants, certain areas, office spaces of organizations, and even some private homes are utilized to provide free accommodation for pilgrims.
As per Mytour
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Reference: Travel guide from Mytour
MytourDecember 12, 2023
