Recognition of ma nhai stele system in Kinh Chu Cave as national treasure announced

Participants in the ceremony

Kinh Mon District authorities held a ceremony on February 23 (the 8th day of the 1st lunar month) to open the 2018 Mau Tuat Spring Festival and announce the Prime Minister's decision recognizing the ma nhai stele (stele directly carved on a cliff) system in Kinh Chu Cave as a national treasure.

Leaders of the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, Hai Duong Province, and Kinh Mon District offer incense

In attendance were Mr. Nguyen Manh Hien, member of the Party Central Committee, secretary of the provincial Party Committee, chairman of the provincial People’s Council; Ms. Dang Thi Binh Lien, deputy minister of Culture, Sports, and Tourism; Mr. Nguyen Duong Thai, deputy secretary of the provincial Party Committee, chairman of the provincial People's Committee, head of the provincial Delegation of National Assembly Deputies; members of the provincial Party Committee's Standing Board; standing members of the provincial People’s Council; leaders of the provincial People's Committee; representatives of the provincial agencies, boards, sectors, and unions; and numerous officials, people, and tourists.

Secretary of the provincial Party Committee Nguyen Manh Hien drums to open the festival

At the ceremony, the leaders of the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, the provincial Party Committee, People's Council, and People's Committee, and Kinh Mon District offered incense, struck a bell, and drummed to kick off the 2018 Mau Tuat Spring Festival at the An Phu – Kinh Chu – Nham Duong special national relic complex.

Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports, and Tourism Dang Thi Bich Lien hands over the Prime Minister's decision recognizing the ma nhai stele system in Kinh Chu Cave as a national treasure

Authorized by the Prime Minister, Ms. Dang Thi Bich Lien handed over his decision recognizing the ma nhai stele system in Kinh Chu Cave as a national treasure.

Chairman of the provincial People's Committee Nguyen Duong Thai assigns tasks to Kinh Mon District

Addressing the ceremony, Mr. Nguyen Duong Thai emphasized that the recognition of the ma nhai stele system in Kinh Chu Cave in the An Phu – Kinh Chu – Nham Duong special national relic complex as a national treasure was the Party and State's recognition of the contributions of Hai Duong Party, authorities, and residents to the preservation and promotion of the national cultural heritage.

An impressive festive drum performance at the opening ceremony of Kinh Mon District's Mau Tuat Spring Festival

The Prime Minister's decision once again affirmed the position, role, status, and great historical, cultural, and archeological value of the relic complex.

A special musical performance at the ceremony

The chairman of the provincial People's Committee said that in the coming time, apart from continuing to well manage, preserve, renovate, and promote the value of the An Phu – Kinh Chu – Nham Duong special national relic complex, Kinh Mon District authorities should actively and proactively preside over and jointly give advice on the development and submission of a master plan for the special national relic complex to the Prime Minister for approval; gradually work out a suitable plan to synchronize the preservation and promotion of the relics' value in association with economic development and infrastructure construction.

There are many fascinating entertainment activities at Kinh Mon District's Mau Tuat Spring Festival. In the photo: A Chinese chess tournament with the participation of 76 players

Out of 54 stelae in the ma nhai stele system, only 47 are readable due to the impact of nature and wars. This is a natural stone museum storing epitaphs and sculptures by kings, sages, mandarins, those with progressive thoughts, etc. from the end of the Tran Dynasty to the end of the Nguyen Dynasty.

An attractive traditional wrestling tournament at Kinh Mon District's Mau Tuat Spring Festival

The 2018 Mau Tuat Spring Festival is taking place from February 23 to May 15 (i.e. January 8 – April 1 on the lunar calendar) in Kinh Mon District.

The chung cake making contest draws 10 teams from communes and towns in the district

Besides traditional rituals, the organizers of this year's festival will carry out many cultural, musical, and sport activities and folk games like traditional wrestling, chung (square glutinous rice), day  (round glutinous rice), and long cake making, etc.

HaiDuongnews