In the joyful and excited atmosphere of the early days of the Lunar New Year – Spring of Quy Mao 2023, under the guidance and support of the Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism of Phu Tho Province, the People’s Committee of Ngoc Quan Commune solemnly organized the traditional Ngoc Tan Temple Festival on February 20–21, 2023 (the 1st and 2nd days of the second lunar month). The festival aimed to restore, preserve, and promote the unique cultural values of the Cao Lan ethnic group.

Ngoc Tan Village Temple was built in 1803 during the second year of King Gia Long’s reign and was recognized as a provincial-level historical and cultural relic in 1994. The temple worships the three great lords of the 18th Hung King era: Cao Son, Cao Dao, and Cao Dao, who made significant contributions to helping King Hung defend the nation and were honored by the people of Ngoc Tan as village deities.

Ceremonial Activities
The ceremonial part of the festival featured unique and solemn rituals expressing gratitude and honoring the ancestors who contributed to the country’s defense.

Festive Activities
The festive part was vibrant, including performances of traditional folk songs and dances, as well as cultural and sports exchanges among administrative areas, local units, and neighboring communes.

Visitors to the festival had the opportunity to experience and observe the labor and daily life of the Cao Lan ethnic community through traditional songs, dances, and activities, such as the Bird Dance, Shrimp Catching Dance, Sinh Ca Singing, and Veo Ca Singing. They also immersed themselves in the spring festival atmosphere with traditional games like tug-of-war, shuttlecock throwing, stilt walking, crossbow shooting, and cockfighting. Moreover, visitors could enjoy traditional Cao Lan dishes such as five-colored sticky rice, bamboo-tube rice, Chim Cake, and Tram Cake, which are gifts from nature reflecting the hard work of the local people.

Significance of the Festival
The 2023 Ngoc Tan Village Temple Festival was a venue for heritage transmission and fostering national pride among the younger generation of the Cao Lan ethnic group. It also served as an opportunity to promote the customs and cultural beauty of the Cao Lan people in Ngoc Quan Commune specifically and Doan Hung District in general to visitors.

Rituals at Ngoc Tan Temple

Offerings presented to the Three Great Lords

Villagers making "Chim Cakes" as offerings to the deities

Sinh Ca Singing

Shrimp-Catching Dance and Stilt Walking

Volleyball and Tug-of-War Competitions

Swing Game

Article and Photos: Thanh Thuy - Department of Cultural Heritage Management