Song Temple Festival: The Cultural Beauty of Vietnamese Mother Goddess Worship

1. Introduction to the Den Song Temple Festival

Located in Quang Trung ward, Thanh Hoa province, the Den Song Temple Festival is one of the most distinctive spiritual and cultural events in Northern Vietnam. The temple is situated right beside National Highway 1A, making it convenient for pilgrims from all directions to offer incense and pay homage. Not only a place to entrust faith, Den Song Son Temple also symbolizes the simple, sincere culture and the deep gratitude of the people of the Thanh Hoa region towards Saint Mother Lieu Hanh. Every third lunar month, the atmosphere here becomes more vibrant than ever as tens of thousands of visitors gather to participate in the Den Song Temple Festival to pray for peace, prosperity, and a bountiful harvest.

The festival is held at Song Son Temple, Thanh Hoa province. (Source: Collected)

The value of the Song Temple festival is not only reflected in the solemn rituals but also in the joyful, bustling atmosphere of the festival part. The rituals of Hau Dong and Hat Van are vividly performed, clearly reflecting the Mother Goddess worship belief – an intangible cultural heritage recognized by UNESCO. Amidst the vibrant colors of the palanquin processions, the sound of festival drums blending with the echoing Hat Van songs, visitors can deeply feel the spirit of reverence and national cultural pride. Along with that are folk games, dishes rich in the flavors of Thanh Hoa land, and historical stories associated with King Quang Trung. All create a complete cultural space, making the Song Temple festival an unmissable stop on the journey to explore the heritage region.

2. Time of organization of Song Son Temple festival

The Song Temple festival is held annually from the 10th to the 26th day of the second lunar month. Among which, the 25th is the main festival day, this is the day Saint Mother Lieu Hanh descended to bestow blessings upon all people. At this time, the area around Song Son Temple is filled with festival colors, the lively sound of drums and gongs, fragrant incense smoke, and bustling crowds of pilgrims. This is an occasion for everyone to offer incense in remembrance of the Saint Mother, praying for peace and good fortune for the new year.

3. Unique features in rituals and activities at the Song Son Temple festival

3.1. Typical spiritual rituals at the Song Son Temple festival

The Song Temple festival begins with the ritual of carrying the Saint Mother's effigy from Song Temple to Chin Gieng Temple. The procession includes female spirit mediums, male spirit mediums, along with many local people and tourists, creating a solemn yet bustling atmosphere. The resounding sound of drums and gongs blending with the colors of flags and flowers makes the procession scene both sacred and splendid. Following that is the incense offering and peace prayer ceremony, where people sincerely offer incense, entrusting their wishes for a peaceful and prosperous year. Before the main festival day, the water procession and statue bathing rituals are also held, symbolizing purity and gratitude to the Saint Mother.

During the days of the Song Temple festival, the female spirit mediums and their associations are the ones who play an important role. They are the ones who serve the Saint Mother, performing the rituals of spirit mediumship and trance with deep reverence. Before the festival, they often fast and maintain purity to prepare for the rituals. It is their solemnity, dedication, and sincerity that contribute to creating a sacred atmosphere and rich cultural identity for the festival.

3.2. The festival part with a joyful, community-bonding atmosphere

The festival part of the Song Temple festival is always the most anticipated moment, when the solemn atmosphere gradually shifts to bustling and lively. It begins with lively lion dances, the echoing sound of drums blending with the graceful dances of the artists, creating a colorful festival scene full of vitality and joy. Next, the sound of Hat Chau Van during the spirit mediumship ritual rises, taking viewers as if into a mystical spiritual space. The graceful yet powerful trance dances of the female spirit mediums create a harmony between humans and deities, making the festival space more sacred and vibrant and full of cultural colors.

Artistic performances at the Song Temple festival. (Source: Collected)

Not only is there a solemn ceremony, the Song Temple festival is also an occasion for locals and tourists to immerse themselves in folk games such as tug-of-war, swing, human chess, or enjoy Thanh folk songs. Laughter and cheers echoed everywhere, filling the festival space with joy and connection. Everyone joined in the warm, friendly atmosphere, as if erasing all distances. It is the harmony between belief and everyday joy that has created the special vitality of the Song Temple festival, where culture and spirituality meet, where people find peace, happiness, and beautiful emotions that linger long after they leave.

4. Experience attending the Song Son Temple festival

4.1. Notes when participating in the festival

When participating in the Song Temple festival, visitors should choose neat, modest, and polite attire to show respect at the sacred place. During the incense offering and ritual ceremonies, visitors must follow the guidance of the management board and temple keepers, avoid crowding, pushing, or burning votive paper indiscriminately.

Besides, maintaining general hygiene, not littering, and protecting the landscape are ways to show civilized awareness when attending the festival. Visitors should also be vigilant and carefully protect their personal belongings in crowded spaces.

4.2. Combine with visiting famous attractions in Thanh Hoa

After participating in the Song Temple festival, visitors can combine their trip to explore many other famous destinations in Thanh Hoa to make the journey more complete. The Thanh region is not only prominent for its spiritual value but also possesses many majestic natural landscapes, historical relics, and attractive folk legends. Here are some suggestions for visitors to combine sightseeing and fully enjoy the beauty of this traditional land:

May Waterfall: Located in Thach Quang commune, May Waterfall possesses a poetic beauty with 9 tiers of white cascading water, likened to a silk ribbon amidst the vast forest. This is an ideal stop for those who love wild nature and want to enjoy the fresh air.

Mai An Tiêm Temple: The temple commemorates Mai An Tiêm, the legendary founder of the Vietnamese watermelon variety. The temple space is peaceful, ancient, bearing the imprint of history and folk culture.

Pu Luong: This nature reserve is famous for its terraced fields, Thai ethnic villages, and cool climate year-round. This is an ideal destination for tourists who love ecotourism and want to experience mountain culture.

Huyen Tich Am Tien (in the future): Located on Nua Mountain, the Huyen Tich Am Tien tourist area is currently being heavily invested in and developed. This place is associated with the legend of Lady Trieu, promising to become a national-level spiritual-cultural tourism center, connecting the historical past with the dynamic present of the Thanh region.

Huyen Tich Am Tien promises to be a spiritual tourist destination that will attract tourists in the future. (Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper)

The Temple of Song Festival is not only an occasion for tourists to return to a sacred place, offer incense in remembrance of Saint Mother Lieu Hanh, but also a journey to experience the unique culture of the Thanh land. Amidst the vibrant colorful space, the sound of drums, gongs, and the chanting of Chau Van songs echoing, everyone feels peace and tranquility in their soul. If you have the chance to visit Thanh Hoa, come and participate in the Temple of Song Festival once, to immerse yourself in the sacred festival atmosphere, discover the ancient spiritual cultural beauty, and bring back memorable moments from this land rich in tradition.