On February 28, in the Mai King Temple area (Nam Dan commune, Nghe An province), the traditional water procession ceremony was solemnly held, attracting a large number of people and tourists to attend. This is an important opening ceremony for the Mai King Temple Festival in 2026.
From the Mai King Temple, the procession with drums, gongs, offerings and water palanquins paraded to Sa Nam wharf in a bustling atmosphere but still maintaining solemnity. At the river wharf, water procession boats are decorated with flags and flowers, preparing for the journey upstream of the Lam River to get sacred water.
On the river section in front of King Mai's tomb, the elderly and prestigious person in the village performs the ritual of scooping water with a coconut shell, pouring it into a ceramic jar in the traditional order. Each movement is carried out slowly and solemnly in the presence of a large number of people.
After the jar of water is full, the procession returns to the temple to continue the rituals. Sacred water is used to wash the offerings, expressing the meaning of purification, enlightenment, and praying for a peaceful and fulfilling festival season.
The Mai King Temple Festival is not only a spiritual cultural activity at the beginning of spring but also an opportunity for people in Nghe An to express gratitude for the merits of Mai Thuc Loan - a national hero of the 8th century, who led the uprising against the Northern domination.
Images of the solemn procession on the village road, boats gliding lightly on the Lam River in the early morning sun have created a festival space rich in identity, contributing to connecting the community and preserving the traditional cultural values of the locality.
