The old Tieu Mai village or Mai village today existed 1,500 years ago. It was an ancient Vietnamese village located next to the northern bank of the Cau (Nhu Nguyet) River.

The current Tieu Mai village includes 3 hamlets: Mai Thuong, Mai Trung and Thang Loi. The old people in the village said that when the Song invaded our country, Ly Thuong Kiet built a battle line on the Nhu Nguyet River to stop the enemy.

During those days, Tieu Mai villagers often used boats to help Ly Thuong Kiet's army cross the river and create surprise attack on the enemy, contributing to the glorious victory on February 17, 1077. The Song army suffered a heavy defeat, causing them to be "terrified" and have to withdraw their troops.

Names such as Xa River junction, Xac hill, Ngu Giap temple became historical landmarks. Xa junction, the convergence point between Cau River and Ca Lo River, is also the place where Ly Thuong Kiet read the famous poem "Nam Quoc Son Ha" - the Declaration affirming the sovereignty of the Vietnamese people.

The Rowing Festival was originated from the tradition of performing the victory of Ly Thuong Kiet against the Song invaders at Nhu Nguyet river. Since then, every five years, on the 10th day of the third lunar month, the people of Mai village joyfully hold a festival to commemorate the glorious victory of the talented general Ly Thuong Kiet.

Normally, the Rowing Festival lasts for three days with many religious activities and attractive folk games, which have become a traditional festival of the entire area of ​​residents living along the banks of the Cau River.

Coming to the festival, viewers seem to witness the heroic echoes of their ancestors from thousands of years ago. The past and the present seem to blend together, adding to the patriotic tradition and martial spirit of the people on both sides of the Nhu Nguyet River.

Until now, the Rowing Festival still retains many unique features honoring those who have contributed to their ancestors through solemn rituals that demonstrate the martial spirit of the people of Kinh Bac region.

With great cultural, historical and traditional significance and strong influence, Tieu Mai Village Rowing Festival has just been included in the List of National Intangible Cultural Heritage according to Decision No. 2315/QD-BVHTTDL, dated August 9, 2024 of the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

This is an important foundation for local authority and people to further preserve and expand the scale of the event, thereby promoting its value in social life, contributing to educating martial spirit and patriotic traditions in generations.

Quoc Truong

 

 

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