To continue promoting the image, architectural artistic values, and unique cultural features of Keo Pagoda to visitors from near and far, this year, Vu Thu district (Thai Binh province) continues to organize the Keo Pagoda Autumn Festival at the district level.
The festival takes place over 8 days, from October 12 to October 19 (ie September 10 to September 17 of the year of the Dragon). Compared to previous years, this year's festival lasts 2 days longer.
Speaking to Lao Dong, Ms. Pham Thi Nhu Phong - Chairman of Vu Thu District People's Committee - said that this year's Keo Pagoda Autumn Festival continues to be raised in scale to match the position and value of a special national relic. During the days of the festival, in addition to traditional rituals, there are also cultural activities, arts, and folk games, arranged by the organizers during the day and evening.
“Also during the festival, we organized a fair to introduce and promote OCOP products and key products, with a scale of 130 booths including commercial booths, folk food areas, and display areas to introduce OCOP products and key products of districts in the province and outside the province,” said Ms. Phong.
The latest highlight of this year’s festival is the cultural and artistic activities, spiritual activities, trade promotion activities… organized in an open way. Instead of being confined within the limited space of the temple grounds, the activities are organized evenly and widely in the surrounding area.
This year, according to the organizers, the number of tourists coming in groups and on tours to the festival is much higher than in previous years, especially on weekends. The lantern festival also attracts a large number of people and tourists.
"This will be a positive premise for Keo Pagoda festival in the coming years to reach a wider and more profound level," Ms. Phong added.
Anh Duc (24 years old, residing in Thai Thuy district, Thai Binh province) - shared: “Every year we go to Keo pagoda festival, my feeling is that this year's autumn festival is organized on a larger scale than previous years, with many new programs and activities added to create diversity in the festival activities. I am especially impressed with the cake and food festival, games such as catching ducks in the lake, martial arts performances, love songs…”.
According to the organizers' estimates, about 160,000 - 170,000 visitors and local people came to Keo Pagoda during the 8 days of the festival. The opening ceremony with a unique art program; fair introducing OCOP products, key products, and specialties of localities; cake and food festival were widely responded and participated by locals and visitors.
Security, order and traffic safety are ensured; environmental sanitation is highly appreciated.
