Come back to the history, legendsaid that a humble fisherman in the 11th century achieved enlightenmentas a Buddhist monk and could thereby fly through the air, walk on waterand tame snakes and tigers. However, the holy man Duong Khong Lo(1016-1094) secured his name firmly in his country’s history books whenhe used his magic powers to cure King Le Thanh Tong (1066-1127) of aterrible disease. Over 900 years later, residents of Vu Nhat Commune, Vu Thu District, Thai Binh Province still honour the Buddhist hero with a festival as mystical as the legend it recognises.

Theflocks of visitors who come to witness the Autumn Festival, theprovince’s biggest cultural event of the year, have no trouble findingKeo Pagoda, located on the site where the Buddhist dignitary had pagodabuilt in the 17th Century.

Keo pagoda is architecturally unique and stands at a scenic spot on the Red River Delta. ThePagoda is home to a wealth of ancient relics, from intricately engravedwooden dragons to a collection of over 100 statues. The pagoda also hasvaluable antiques including a pair of candlesticks from the MacDynasty, pottery ware and altars from the Le Dynasty, imperial boatsand more, which are all as well preserved now as they were during thetime of the Le Trung Hung Dynasty in 16th century.

The yearly festival is celebrated from 13^th to 15th of the ninth lunar month, 100 days after the death of the Buddhist dignitary Duong Khong Lo. The festival features religiousand traditional rituals and customs held in celebration of the Buddhistmonk who rendered great merits to the people and the country. Thefestival also hosts different traditional cultural activitiesreflecting the life style, which is imbued with traits of the Red RiverDelta’s agricultural culture.

Keo pagoda's festival

Thepagoda’s own mythical appeal plays a significant role in drawing somany visitors to Vu Nhat Village each year on the 13th, 14th and 15thdays of the ninth lunar month. Normally, people visit the commune tooffer prayer at the Keo Pagoda in honor of the Buddhist monk. Similarto other Vietnam festivals and events, Keo Pagoda Festival commenceswith a procession of palanquin to remind people of the anniversary ofKhong Lo’s death, followed by a boat race and a literary recitalcompetition during the day. When night falls, it's time for music and atrumpet and drum competition, light from the main shrine illuminatespreparations for the next day’s procession, prayers are offered untilmidnight.

Onthe 14th day of the ninth lunar month, in celebration of the birthanniversary of monk Khong Lo, in the morning, the procession ceremonycomes after the incense-offering ritual. A carriage pulled by two pairsof white and pink wooden horses head the procession, accompanied by 8flag bearers and 42 men carrying bat but luu bo, a classical Vietnameseweapon. Four people wearing black gauze outfits and white trousers, whocarry a dragon in commemoration of Khong Lo’s journey by boat to thecapital of the kingdom to treat King Ly Nhan Tong. Four people in thesame outfit carrying a small gilded boat put in a stand, depicting theperiod of monk Khong Lo’s life when he was a fisherman. In theafternoon, at Gia Roi shrine, the mua ech vo (frog-catching dance)ritual pays respect to the gods, while incense is offered to Buddha.

Thefestival continues into the next day with further entertainment andtraditional games such as duck catching, rice cooking competition andfirecracker hurling competition. However, the most interestingperformance that attracts a large number of tourist is the  boatrowing dance on land which is performed by 12 people in fine costumes,standing in two parallel lines like the way they sit in the boat. Asone performer beats a small drum and another holds a wooden fish, the12 performers "row" while flexing their legs and calling outrhythmically. This performance also puts an end to the three-day KeoPagoda Festival.

Itis believed that together with this meaningful festival, Keo Pagodawill remain an interesting tourist attraction and a pride forVietnamese architects, Vu Nhat villagers and all of Thai Binh Province– as well as our whole country!