Festival of Cao Lo Vuong temple

Cao Lo Vuong temple.

After the death of General Cao Lo, due to his merits to the people, to the country, through the kings and dynasties, the following dynasties were all ordained and bestowed upon him as the Superior God. People around the area also set up temples to commemorate and recognize the merits of the general who was loyal to the country and the people.

Along with the genealogy, at present, Cao Lo Vuong temple still preserves 20 ordinations bestowed by the Kings' dynasties. The oldest surviving ordination is dated to Canh Huong 4 (1796), and the most modern is dated to Khai Dinh 9 (1924).

Over time, through many times of restoration and embellishment, Cao Lo Vuong temple still retains the imprint of sculptural architecture of the two Le - Nguyen dynasties.

As customary, every year on the 10th day of March (lunar calendar), the people of 8 villages in Dai Than Area as: Dai Trung, Dong Trung, Binh Than, Tieu Than, Van Than, Phu Than, Kenh Pho and My Luc which worship the Cao Lo Vuong shall hold the festival. Right from morning of 9th day, Cao Lo Vuong temple has opened for representatives of villages to do the wash and bathe ceremony (clean the altar and change the new cloth for statue of mandarin).

After the ceremony is the festival with many game representing the legend of Mandarin as: Dai Trung village has the game of “múa mo múa mộc” symbolized for Cao Lo Vuong on fighting against the enemies. Tieu Than village has the game of “múa bông đánh bệt” describing the legend that Cao Lo Vuong had died because of error and the tigers have brought his body to the hometown for burying by the local people; alone “fighting” occur for every village, because Dai Than Area is the land of sport spirt; at the same time there are many cultural and art activities playful healthy folk bearing deep homeland, nation.

Time for open the festival: 10th day of March (lunar calendar) every year.

With unique cultural, historical and architectural values, Cao Lo Vuong Temple was ranked as a national historical relic by the (old) Ministry of Culture and Information in 2005.