Ninh Binh preserves national intangible cultural heritage of Long Doi Son Pagoda Festival

Attending the festival, visitors can offer incense, pray to Buddha for peace, and enjoy the historical depth, culture, and picturesque scenery of this "second most famous scenic spot in Nam Son," contributing to the preservation and promotion of the cultural values of the site and the festival.

According to historical records, on the summit of the sacred Doi mountain, in 1054, King Ly Thanh Tong and Queen Y Lan presided over the construction of the pagoda and named it Dien Linh Tu.

During the reign of King Ly Nhan Tong, construction continued, expanding and building the Sung Thien Dien Linh stupa (from 1118-1121). This place became a major Buddhist centre during the Ly Dynasty in Vietnam.

The tower stood strong for three centuries, until the early 15th century when the Ming invaders destroyed it during their invasion of Vietnam. Fortunately, the precious Sung Thien Dien Linh stele survived a masterpiece of architecture recording the entire construction process, symbolic meaning, and historical-cultural value of Doi Pagoda and the Sung Thien Dien Linh tower during the Ly Dynasty; along with six statues of the guardian deities Kim Cuong carved in relief on stone; and a statue of the mythical bird Kinara.

Thousands of decorative ceramic pieces depicting dancing women and dragons in terracotta reflect the artistic style of the Ly Dynasty.

Through countless historical upheavals, Long Doi Son Pagoda has retained its ancient, sacred character, deeply rooted in the architectural and artistic style of the Ly Dynasty. In 1992, the Ministry of Culture and Information (now the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism) recognised Doi Son Pagoda as a National Historical and Cultural Relic Site. Long Doi Son Pagoda was ranked as a Special National Relic Site in 2017.

Along with its ancient architecture, other infrastructure has been invested in, making the pagoda increasingly attractive to tourists from near and far.

The Long Doi Son Pagoda Festival is held annually in mid-March of the lunar calendar with traditional rituals and many cultural, artistic, and sporting activities, creating a unique spiritual and cultural event, aiming to continue and promote the fine traditions of our ancestors.

The festival also serves as a bridge to bring the unique heritage values of Buddhism closer to the people and tourists, contributing to preserving the "soul" of the homeland's culture in the new era.

Ngo Duc Dung, Chairman of the People's Committee of Tien Son ward, said that to continue preserving and promoting the spiritual values and honoring the cultural diversity of the Doi Son Pagoda Festival, the People's Committee of Tien Son ward has closely coordinated with the Management Board of the Long Doi Son Pagoda National Special Relic Site in the management, preservation, and promotion of the relicsite's value.

The work of restoration, renovation, and landscape beautification has always been regularly implemented by competent authorities, contributing to gradually improving the relic site's space towards a more spacious, clean, and beautiful environment, harmonising with the ancient architecture and natural landscape.

This not only preserves precious cultural and historical values but also improves the quality of service, better meeting the needs of visitors and tourists from all over the country. At the same time, it contributes to promoting the image of the Long Doi Son Pagoda National Special Relic Site to a wider audience inside and outside the province./