(BNP) - Xuan Lai communal house (Xuan Lai village, Gia Binh commune, Bac Ninh province) worships the Holy Tam Giang Uy Dich Great King, whose given name was Truong Hat, and also worships Lord Dung Do Thien and Lord Hung Do Thien. Later, the people also worshiped Lady Dam Nuong, the sister of the Holy Tam Giang.
The main hall is built on a large plot of land at the beginning of the village.
Xuan Lai Temple was originally built a long time ago and has undergone many renovations and restorations. Before being burned down during the resistance war against the French, the temple was large and famously beautiful in the region.
The main gate.
After the 1948 raid, only the rear hall of Xuan Lai Temple remained. After peace was restored, the local people contributed labor and resources to repair and renovate the rear hall. In 1993, the front hall was rebuilt on the old foundation in the traditional style. By 2018, the local people had dismantled the old communal house and started building a new one on the old site.
The roof ridge of the communal house is decorated with two dragons flanking the sun.
Currently, the communal house is located at the beginning of the village, facing south, bordered by a road in front and to the right, a residential area on the left, and a pagoda behind. The communal house was rebuilt on the old site in 2018 by the local people.
The main communal house has 5 compartments, 2 wings, and 4 curved roofs.
Xuan Lai communal house includes the following structures: the main gate, the main hall, and 2 rows of side buildings. The main building has a T-shaped architecture, consisting of the main hall and the rear hall.
Main altar.
Many precious artifacts are preserved in the communal house.
The communal house still preserves many precious artifacts such as: the altar, statues, swords, ceremonial boxes, historical records, offering trays, and couplets (all artifacts dating back to the Nguyen Dynasty). In addition, the communal house also preserves a system of ancient steles, incense burners, and other precious objects…
Many important events take place at Xuan Lai communal house throughout the year. The most important event is held from the 14th to the 16th of November in the lunar calendar, traditionally called "entering the festival" or "entering the gathering." This is an important cultural and religious event organized on a large scale and in a systematic manner, with the participation of the entire community and many unique rituals and customs.
Today, the festival at Xuan Lai communal house only takes place over two days, from the 15th to the 16th of November in the lunar calendar.
Xuan Lai communal house has been classified by the State as a provincial-level historical and cultural relic in Decision No. 1048/QD-UBND, dated September 17, 2015.
