Minh Khanh Pagoda Festival

Minh Khanh Pagoda Festival Minh Khanh Pagoda is also known as Huong Dai Pagoda or Perfume Pagoda in Binh Ha village, Thanh Ha district. Binh Ha was originally Binh Kha site during the Ly dynasty. In the 13th century, Tran Nhan Tong changed it to Huong Dai, now belonging to Thanh Binh town, Thanh Ha district, Hai Duong city. Minh Khanh Pagoda dates from the late 13th century, was restored and embellished many times, and by the early 20th century had 84 rooms including: three gates, front hall, three jewels, Buddha hall, monk's house, guest house, corridor. The pagoda worships Buddha and worships Tran Nhan Tong. Minh Khanh Pagoda was recognized as a national historical-cultural relic in 1990. Minh Khanh Pagoda Festival originated from the anniversary of the death of Tran Nhan Tong (November 1). The festival started on October 30 and ended on the afternoon of November 1, but preparations were done weeks in advance not only for Binh Ha but also for 5 neighboring communes. The procession is held on the morning of the 29th day of the 10th lunar month. The procession gathered at Ngu Doi temple to perform the ceremony to ask for blessings and then brought the colors back to the pagoda to perform the offering ceremony to open the festival. Participants in the procession are young men and women aged 18 years and older. Leading the way is a lion dance team, a procession of Buddhist banners, festival flags accompanied by Buddhist monks and nuns, and a ceremonial band including drums and gongs. Next is a row of eight treasures carried by eight young girls wearing red-brown shirts, white pants, and headscarves. Behind the eight treasures is a line of raiders led by 8 young men wearing red-brown shirts, white pants, and scarves on their heads. Next, the dragon communal house is placed with an incense bowl and a tray of five fruits. The festival has a custom of competing on five-fruit trays and five types of cakes: Day cake, Honey cake, It cake, Tay cake, and Gac cake. Behind the royal court is a ceremonial team consisting of halberds and precious bowls, then a palanquin containing the king's royal coffin, decorated with splendid red cloth. Following the procession are elders, officials, villagers and tourists from everywhere.  On the morning of October 30, the monks take feasts and cakes to the temple to worship the King and Buddha, and organize folk performances. There are games such as human chess, water puppetry, cheo performances, quan ho singing... five-fruit tray competition and banh day making. Five-fruit tray competition: 9 residential areas of the town make 9 five-fruit trays to participate. The five-fruit trays are presented according to a number of themes such as: nine dragons painting pearls (nine dragons painting pearls); Nine dragon stupa (nine dragons and stupa); dragon unicorn festival (dragon unicorn festival); the upper royal dragon, the lower four sacred objects (above the golden dragon below are 4 sacred objects); four sacred objects following the mother (four sacred objects: dragon, lychee, tortoise, and phoenix follow the mother); On the top, the dragon and the dragon flank the moon, and on the bottom, the Four Spirits celebrate the festival (above, the golden dragon flanks the moon, and below, the Four Spirits celebrate)... The ingredients used are country products such as grapefruit, green bananas, papaya, pepper, kumquat, custard apple, longan seeds... Through the talented hands and rich imagination of the people, the dragons, phoenixes, and unicorns become extremely beautiful and lively. On the afternoon of November 1, the ceremony is completed, the feast and cakes are judged, the procession to Ngu Doi communal house, and the festival ends.