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On March 11th, the opening ceremony of the 2025 Ha Temple - Thuong Temple - Y La Temple Festival took place in Tuyen Quang city, attracting a large number of locals and tourists. This year, the Ha Temple - Thuong Temple - Y La Temple Festival in Tuyen Quang city will be held from March 9th to March 15th, 2025 (corresponding to the 10th to 16th day of the 2nd lunar month).
Over time, although the festival has incorporated modern elements, its preparation process, procession route, festival decorations, ceremonial texts, parade costumes, palanquins, and offerings still retain the strong traditional characteristics of the locality.
The procession of the Holy Mother's palanquin through the center of Tuyen Quang city attracted thousands of locals and tourists.
The festival of the Lower Temple - Upper Temple - Y La Temple was revived in 2007. This is the 14th year the festival has been held and it continues to attract locals and tourists. The procession starts from the Upper Temple on Kim Binh Street, crosses Tan Trao Bridge into the center of Tuyen Quang City, and proceeds to the Lower Temple in Tan Quang Ward. The festival of the Lower Temple - Upper Temple - Y La Temple is not only an occasion to remember and express gratitude for the merits of our ancestors, but also a space for community connection, where people express their wishes for a prosperous life, favorable weather, and bountiful harvests.
The festival at Ha Temple, Thuong Temple, and Y La Temple in Tuyen Quang city in 2025 will be held from February 10th to February 16th (Lunar Calendar).
The belief in the worship of the Mother Goddesses of the Three and Four Realms has deeply ingrained in the Vietnamese psyche a profound philosophy of life – emphasizing protection, compassion, and gratitude towards the divine beings. Beyond mere worship, the Mother Goddess belief is also a symbol of community strength, a place where people find inner peace, and pray for safety and happiness. The spirit medium ritual, an intangible cultural heritage recognized by UNESCO, is not only a spiritual practice but also a brilliant symbol of folk art and culture, demonstrating the vibrant vitality of the nation's beliefs.
For hundreds of years, the worship of Mother Goddess has been an integral part of the spiritual life of the people of Tuyen Quang.
The existence of the Mother Goddess worship belief, with its positive influences, has contributed to shaping a unique cultural characteristic of Tuyen Quang, where reverence and honor for one's roots have become core values in the lives of the people. This has helped Tuyen Quang become not only a land of history and revolution but also a sacred spiritual destination for visitors from all over.
Many exciting activities take place at the festival.
During the festival, locals and tourists will enjoy an opening lion dance performance, immerse themselves in the melodious sounds of Chau Van singing in the performance of the Vietnamese Mother Goddess worship rituals, savor the taste of tea in the "Tuyen Quang Tea Space," admire the costumes (scarfs and robes) in the exhibition space showcasing ceremonial scarves and robes used in Mother Goddess worship, and participate in sports activities and traditional folk games...
The ceremonial part takes place on the mornings of March 10th and 11th (including the procession of the Mother Goddess from the Y La Temple and the Upper Temple to the Lower Temple for joint worship and entry into the palace). On March 15th, the ceremony of returning to the palace takes place - the procession of the Holy Mother Goddess from the Lower Temple back to the Upper Temple and the Y La Temple.
In addition, this year's festival also features an interactive screen showcasing the Mother Goddess worship tradition in the Hạ Temple grounds, offering the public the opportunity to admire the beauty of traditional art and learn more about Mother Goddess worship. All these activities not only contribute to preserving traditional identity but also create opportunities for domestic and international tourists to visit Tuyên Quang, experience, and better understand the value of this religious heritage.
Tuyen Quang is known as a sacred land, a place where many cultural and historical currents intersect. Not only is it a land steeped in the glorious history of the nation, but Tuyen Quang is also a place where the essence of Vietnamese spiritual culture converges. For hundreds of years, the worship of the Mother Goddess has been intertwined with the spiritual life of the people, creating a unique identity that is both sacred and mysterious, yet pure and benevolent.
Along with honoring religious values, this year's festival also sets new goals for conservation and sustainable development.
With the enthusiastic participation of locals and tourists from all over, the 2025 Lower Temple - Upper Temple - Y La Temple Festival will continue to spread positive values, making Tuyen Quang an increasingly attractive spiritual and cultural destination on the Vietnamese tourism map. Beyond demonstrating love for national culture, the large participation of locals and tourists at the 2025 Lower Temple - Upper Temple - Y La Temple Festival is also a testament to their responsibility in preserving and promoting the country's fine traditional values.
