Opening of the Keo Pagoda Spring Festival 2025 in Thai Binh: Preserving the Sacred Spirit of Vietnamese Culture

The opening ceremony of the Keo Pagoda Spring Festival 2025 was graced by the presence of a large number of venerable monks and nuns from both inside and outside Vu Thu District, including Venerable Thich Thanh Quang, the abbot of the Keo Pagoda Monastery.

On the government side, the opening ceremony was attended by: Dang Thanh Giang, Member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee, Permanent Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Council; Pham Van Nghiem, Provincial Party Member, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; Truong Thi Hong Hanh, Provincial Party Member, Director of the Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism. Vu Thu District’s leaders included: Nguyen Quang Anh, Provincial Party Member, Secretary of the District Party Committee; Lai Truong Son, Permanent Deputy Secretary of the District Party Committee, Chairman of the District People's Council; Pham Thi Nhu Phong, Deputy Secretary of the District Party Committee, Chairman of the District People's Committee; along with members of the District Party Standing Committee, Executive Committee of the District Party, leaders of the District People's Committee, members of the Steering Committee for the Keo Pagoda Spring Festival, leaders of communes in the area, as well as a large number of local residents, Buddhist followers, and visitors from all over.

The Keo Pagoda Spring Festival 2025 takes place from February 1 to 5 (the 4th to 8th days of the first lunar month). This is the second year that the festival is held over five days instead of just the 4th day of the first lunar month as in previous years. During the opening day (the 4th day of the lunar month), activities were conducted in accordance with local traditions and State regulations. Ceremonial activities included the Opening of the Seal Ceremony, Saint Worship Puppet Dance, and activities of ceremonial groups at the Gia Roi Building. The festival segment was expanded with many traditional folk games: fire-making rice cooking contests, unicorn dances, duck catching in the pond, festive boat rides, first writing of the year, Chinese chess, blindfolded drum beating, and climbing Ngo bridges.

Right after the Opening of the Seal Ceremony and the opening of the Saint’s Temple, locals and visitors eagerly offered incense to Buddha and Saints and participated in various folk games. Notably, the fire-making rice cooking contest held in front of the inner Tam Quan gate attracted a large crowd.

Although it takes place every year, the fire-making rice cooking contest continues to draw a large number of spectators, including both locals and visitors from afar. Coming to the festival, visitors not only enjoy the festive atmosphere but also immerse themselves in the spirit of Vietnamese culture.