Located peacefully by the Da River, Lang Suong Temple in Tu Vu commune, Phu Tho province is not only a historical relic, but also a spiritual "land of return" for the people of the ancestral land.
Every year, when peach blossoms still linger on the branches, people from all over excitedly come to attend the Lang Suong Temple festival on the full moon day of the first lunar month - the birthday of Saint Tan Vien, the saint at the top of the "Four Immortals" rank.
Unlike many places, Lang Suong Temple carries a special value as it is the only place to worship the entire family of Saint Tan, including: Father Nguyen Cao Hanh, mother Dinh Thi Den, foster mother Ma Thi Cao Son, wife Ngoc Hoa princess and two generals Cao Son and Quy Minh.
Coming to the festival, visitors not only hear stories about Son Tinh's miracle of treating water and suppressing invaders, but also deeply feel the morality of "drinking water, remembering the source" through worshiping his parents and those who nurtured him.
Legend has it that this is the place where Mother Dinh Thi Den gave birth to Saint Tan.
Currently, the quỳ stone slab still has images of the feet, right hand, and right knee of Mother Dinh Thi Den kneeling when giving birth to Saint Tan Vien Son after 14 months of pregnancy.
From early morning, in the sound of drums and flags covering the sky, the solemn water procession proceeds to the river to take the purest drops of water to offer as a ritual. This is a beautiful custom showing respect for nature and praying for favorable weather of agricultural residents.
After the water procession ceremony, there are drum and gong performances to open the festival. Delegates respectfully offer incense, flowers, and offerings to express gratitude and remember the merits of Saint Tan, his family and two generals. Next is the ritual of worship and the respectful incense offering ceremony.
Lang Suong Temple Festival is not only the pride of Phu Tho people but also a bond connecting the past with the present. Amidst the bustling modern pace of life, the fact that thousands of people come here to respectfully offer incense, flowers, and offerings... shows the strong vitality of traditional culture.
Returning to Lang Suong Temple in the Ancestral Land of Phu Tho is returning to the origin, where the humanistic values of filial piety, resilience and community cohesion will forever be the spiritual support for future generations.
