Information from Do Son ward, the Van Ngang Temple Ouija boarding festival in 2026 will take place from April 17 to 24 (ie, from the 1st to the 8th day of the third lunar month of Binh Ngo year). The festival takes place with typical activities such as: Flag Raising ceremony to open the festival, ceremony of reporting, ceremony of worshiping to open the festival, ceremony of welcoming Saint spirits to go to sea, prayer ceremony and festival activities such as folk games, rice cooking contest.
Up to now, Do Son ward has also implemented a festival organization plan, assigning specific tasks to each force and unit in festival organization. In which, it is required to ensure that activities take place solemnly, safely, economically, and in accordance with regulations; strengthen the work of ensuring security and order, traffic safety, fire and explosion prevention, environmental sanitation, food safety; resolutely prevent superstitious and offensive acts in festivals.
The Van Ngang Temple Cau Co Festival originated from a folk story passed down through many generations. Legend has it that in ancient times, when Confucian scholars and intellectuals gathered at the temple to comment on poetry and preach, a "strange writer" appeared with outstanding talent for correspondence. This person left behind profound poems and fluent writing, and then suddenly disappeared. Then, on the offering tray, the title of Quan Hoang Bo - a Saint in the Four Palaces beliefs appeared. From then on, people believed that the Saint had "given the pen", manifested to bestow words and wisdom on people. From this story, the "cau co" ritual - praying to the Saint to bestow words was born and became the center of the festival.
In the ritual, participants sincerely pray to the Saint, ask for letters, and ask for teachings. The letters appearing not only carry the meaning of luck, but also a reminder of the morality of being human, about the path of learning and cultivation. This is a rare unique feature, creating the "unique quality" of the Van Ngang Temple festival.
The Van Ngang Temple Ouija boarding festival in 2026 is not only a traditional ritual, but also contributes to preserving folk cultural heritage; honoring spiritual values associated with knowledge, connecting the community, educating the young generation about the tradition of studiousness. At the same time, it contributes to promoting the image of Do Son - a unique cultural and spiritual destination.
