Ca Mau honors the heritage of 100 Song Doc Whale Festivals

NDO - Ca Mau organizes a series of activities in the coastal town of Song Doc to honor the national intangible cultural heritage of the Song Doc Whale Festival, exactly 100 years old.

At noon on March 14 (February 15 of the lunar calendar), the rituals of the Whale procession ceremony (also known as Nghinh Ong, or Thinh Ong) officially took place at the coastal area of ​​Song Doc (Tran Van Thoi district, Ca Mau province).

The ceremony begins with the worship ritual; the procession of Long Dinh from Van Lang Ong Nam Hai with the palace maids, the men's association, the women's association and the team holding the national flag, pennants, halberds, drums, unicorns..., followed by a large number of people participating in the parade from Lang Ong to Song Doc fishing port, before being taken to the boat to the sea to welcome Ong.

The most important part of the Whale Festival is that dozens of fishing boats with many fishermen go out to sea to welcome the Whale. The fleet gradually moves out to sea towards the Hon Chuoi island cluster. On the way of the parade, if they encounter a Whale spraying water (also known as Ong Doi), the fleet will return immediately.

Worship ceremony before welcoming Ong at Van Lang Ong Nam Hai, Song Doc town.

The ceremony of carrying the Dragon Palace from Van Lang Ong Nam Hai to Song Doc fishing port, before the ship sets out to sea to welcome Ong.

In case the water-spraying Whale is not found, the group will continue to sail and the celebrant will recite a prayer. When about 1-2 nautical miles from the mainland, the celebrant will begin to “ask for glue” and scoop water into jars and bring them to the Nam Hai Whale Temple to worship.

According to the beliefs of the fishermen of Ca Mau coastal area, the ritual of bringing the Whale to the mausoleum is the most sacred moment for everyone to bring the altar (incense, candles, chicken, duck, roast pork, fruit...) in front of the house to worship, to express respect to the sea god who protects the fishermen.

The fleet at Song Doc fishing port prepares to go to sea to perform the Whale Welcome ceremony.

Throughout the Whale Festival, local authorities coordinate with relevant functional forces to increase patrols, control, guide boats, ensure security, order, traffic safety, etc.

Previously, on the evening of March 13, the Song Doc Whale Festival officially opened at the coastal town of Song Doc, with the participation of many local leaders. This is a provincial-level festival, and also the 100th time this traditional folk festival has taken place at the coastal town of Song Doc, Ca Mau province.

Many fishing boats head to the Song Doc estuary to perform the Nghinh Ong (Welcoming Whale, Inviting Whale) ritual.

With the theme "National Intangible Cultural Heritage - Nghinh Ong Song Doc Festival - Ca Mau 100 years of formation and development", the activities of Nghinh Ong Song Doc Festival 2025 will take place from March 11 to 17.

The above series of events are associated with many related activities: Displaying, exhibiting images, documents, and artifacts about the national intangible cultural heritage of the Whale Festival of Song Doc, combined with extracurricular programs; practicing the Whale Procession ritual at the Song Doc estuary; recognizing Song Doc town as meeting civilized urban standards; trade fair associated with the OCOP product industry festival, along with cultural and sports activities...

Art performance to celebrate the opening of the Song Doc Whale Festival on the evening of March 13.

According to Chairman of the People's Committee of Tran Van Thoi District (Ca Mau) Nguyen The Chau, the series of activities of the Nghinh Ong Song Doc Festival in 2025 aims to preserve, conserve and promote the value of the national intangible cultural heritage of Nghinh Ong Song Doc Festival; honor the cultural traditions and fine folk beliefs of coastal residents to satisfy the spiritual needs of local fishermen.

"The festival not only contributesto educating the local young generation but is also a way to preserve cultural heritage in a sustainable way by influencing awareness and increasing knowledge about heritage for the young generation. Through this, it also contributes to propagating, promoting and introducing the traditional cultural activities of Ca Mau to many regions and areas across the country," said Mr. Nguyen The Chau.

Nghinh Ong Song Doc is one of the most unique and biggest folk festivals of the year for fishermen in the coastal area of ​​Ca Mau, wishing for favorable weather, good fishing season... In 2021, the above festival was recognized as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Nghinh Ong takes place annually in the coastal area of ​​Song Doc, and has been held for 100 years now. This is also the largest and busiest coastal town in Ca Mau province.

Source: https://nhandan.vn/ca-mau-ton-vinh-di-san-100-le-hoi-nghinh-ong-song-doc-post865162.html