Ke temple (Dong Nghiem temple) festival in Dinh Ke ward of Bac Giang city is one of important events of Truc Lam Yen Tu Zen founded by King – Monk Trần Nhân Tông.
The festival is held annually on the 5th day of the second lunar month with many cultural activities.
According to history, in the early 13th century, after defeating Yuan-Mongol invaders, King Trần Nhân Tông spent the rest of his life on Yen Tu mountain, founded Truc Lam Zen Buddhism in Vinh Nghiem pagoda. He directed the building of Dong Nghiem temple in the centre of Dinh Ke commune and assigned Monk Trần Như to complete the construction work.
During two wars, Dong Nghiem temple was severely damaged. In 1994, under the direction of Senior Venerable Abbot of Thích Thiện Văn assigned by Most Venerable Thích Tâm Duyệt, the 60th abbot of Vinh Nghiem pagoda, the temple has rebuilt the ancestral area, casted bell and erected statues with a total cost of over 30 billion VND.
Dong Nghiem temple was recognized as a national historical and cultural site in 1994. This year, the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha’s Executive Committee in the province held a procession of a statue of Monk Trần Như, attracting the participation of large numbers of locals and visitors.
PH (nhandan.com.vn)
