Thousands of people eagerly wade into the Barrier to catch fish.

SGGPO 06/04/2023 14:06

On the morning of June 4, in Xuan Vien commune (Nghi Xuan district, Ha Tinh province), the traditional fishing festival of Vuc Rao 2023 took place. From early morning, thousands of people from all over Ha Tinh and Nghe An provinces eagerly gathered at Vuc Rao lagoon to attend the festival.

Immediately after completing the rituals, thousands of people of all ages, men and women, carrying various handmade tools such as baskets, nets, and nets, waded into the vast Vuc Rao lagoon to compete to catch fish.

The festival atmosphere around Vuc Rao lagoon is always very exciting, jubilant, and bustling. Both under Vuc Rao and on the shore, there are always sounds of talking, laughing, and shouting. Those who directly wade into Vuc Rao to hunt fish, although their clothes are soaked, are all happy and excited, especially those who catch a lot of fish.

Thousands of people eagerly wade into the Barrier to catch fish photo 1

Thousands of people attend the festival

Early in the morning of June 4, Mr. Ha Huy Chuong (55 years old, residing in Phuc Tuy village, Xuan Vien commune, Nghi Xuan district, Ha Tinh province) woke up to eat earlier than usual, then brought his tools, a fishing net and a nylon net bag, to the Vuc Rao lagoon area to attend the festival at 5:30 am.

After many hours of wading in muddy, murky water and hot weather, sweating and feeling a bit tired, Mr. Chuong was lucky to catch quite a lot of grass carp, silver carp, crucian carp, etc., including a fish weighing more than 2kg. Mr. Chuong excitedly shared that every year at this time, he comes here to attend the festival. This is a very intimate and meaningful festival, contributing to arousing the traditional culture and community solidarity of the homeland and country. Since this festival has been maintained, preserved and promoted, the people inside and outside the locality have been very happy and excited.

Thousands of people eagerly wade into the Barrier to catch fish photo 2

Mr. Ha Huy Chuong caught a big silver carp.

Vuc Rao fishing festival is one of the "unique" traditional festivals in Ha Tinh province, imbued with the folk cultural identity of people in Xuan Vien commune and many neighboring communes in Nghi Xuan district.

This festival is held annually, with the idea of promoting agriculture, fisheries, and rural agricultural development. At the same time, the festival also strengthens solidarity and unity in the village community.

Thousands of people eagerly wade through the Barrier Abyss to catch fish photo 3

Thousands of people attend the festival

Vuc Rao lagoon was chosen to hold the festival, located at the foot of Hong Linh mountain range, with beautiful landscapes and peaceful countryside. The lagoon is about 2km long with an area of about 30ha. This is an area where many freshwater fish species are concentrated, such as grass carp, silver carp, perch, bighead carp, crucian carp, snakehead fish, catfish, etc. Before the Vuc Rao fishing festival, all fishing activities in this lagoon area were strictly prohibited to create conditions for fish to live and develop.

Thousands of people eagerly wade into the Barrier to catch fish photo 4

People excitedly carry fishing nets to catch fish at the festival.

On the day of the festival, the village chief and village elders set up an altar, offering incense, flowers and fruit to the local Thanh Hoang at the temple next to Vuc Rao lagoon.

After the ceremony, a gong and drum sounded, the village leader himself gave a loud whistle as a command, then took a fishing net and waded into the pond to catch the first fish. Immediately after, everyone took their handmade tools and rushed into the Vuc Rao lagoon to compete in hunting fish.

Thousands of people eagerly wade through the Barrier Abyss to catch fish photo 5

People eagerly participate in the festival

If anyone catches a big fish, they will raise the fish high and shout loudly so that everyone on the shore and in the water can cheer along and applaud enthusiastically. According to the concept, at the festival, if anyone catches a big fish or many fish, they will have good luck, a bountiful harvest, and a prosperous family throughout the year... After the festival, whoever catches the biggest fish will be rewarded by the organizers and that fish will be used as an offering to the village's tutelary god.

Thousands of people eagerly wade through the Barrier Abyss to catch fish photo 6

People are excited to catch a lot of fish.

Over hundreds of years, the local government and people here have always been conscious of preserving, maintaining and conserving the basic beauty of the Vuc Rao fishing festival and often choose to organize it on Sunday, when the harvest is finished, so that children far from home can return home to participate fully and happily...

>> Some pictures of people happily catching fish at the festival