The Nghinh Ông Festival was held at the Ông Duyên Hải mausoleum, Vĩnh Lạc hamlet, Vĩnh Thịnh commune, Hòa Bình district, Bạc Liêu province.
Kien Giang : Nghinh Ong Kien Hai Festival 2022 |
The Nghinh Ong Song Doc Festival in Ca Mau - a beautiful cultural feature of the fishermen of the coastal region. |
 |
| Thousands of people awaited the moment when the procession would carry the statue of Ông (the deity) from the sea to the mausoleum to perform the rituals of worship. Photo: VNA |
This is one of the largest Nghinh Ong Festivals in Bac Lieu province, as well as the Mekong Delta region, attracting a large number of locals and tourists who come to pray for good fortune and smooth sailing in the new year.
This year's Nghinh Ong Duyen Hai Festival takes place over three days (from February 17-19, 2024, corresponding to the 8th to 10th day of the first lunar month of the Year of the Dragon 2024), attracting thousands of tourists and local people from the coastal areas of Bac Lieu, Ca Mau, Soc Trang, and Kien Giang to participate in the festivities.
From early morning, thousands of people from within and outside Bac Lieu province gathered at the Ông Mausoleum, awaiting the moment of the procession to welcome Ông from the sea to the mausoleum for the ritual of offering sacrifices and giving thanks according to the customs and traditions of the local fishermen. The ceremony began with a procession, bringing Ông from the sea, with the participation of many fishing boats of local fishermen amidst the lively sounds of gongs and drums.
Elderly people and young women, dressed solemnly in ceremonial attire, respectfully perform rituals at the Duyen Hai Ancestral Temple according to the traditional customs of the coastal people, praying for favorable weather, calm seas, and boats sailing out to sea with abundant catches of fish and shrimp.
 |
| Fishing boats head out to sea to escort Ông (the deity) to the Ông Duyên Hải shrine for the worship ceremony. Photo: VNA. |
At exactly 8:00 AM, a fleet of three fishing boats carrying hundreds of people departed from inside the Ông Lăng (Ông Mausoleum) to the Cái Cùng estuary for the ceremony of bringing Ông into the mausoleum. The boats were adorned with flags and flowers, accompanied by the sounds of drums, lion dances, and the roar of engines, creating a lively and respectful atmosphere. Upon bringing Ông from the estuary, the Management Board of the Ông Lăng Mausoleum held a ceremony offering incense, flowers, fruit, tea, and wine, thanking Ông for the fishermen's good fortune over the past year and praying for a peaceful and prosperous new year.
Mr. Huynh Van Mung, a fisherman in Vinh Lac hamlet, Vinh Thinh commune, Hoa Binh district, said that every year, after celebrating the Lunar New Year, on the 9th day of the first lunar month, he and his wife are busy buying offerings to take to the Whale God's shrine to worship. Mr. Mung shared: "The fishermen here call whales 'Ông' (Mr. Whale) to express their reverence. Because Ông is always the deity protecting the safety of fishermen in coastal areas amidst strong winds and waves. For those who go to sea, nothing is more important than praying that Ông will bring smooth sailing and a bountiful fishing season."
According to the organizers, this year's Nghinh Ong Festival was meticulously organized and more vibrant than before. The festival featured many lively activities, attracting thousands of fishermen from all over the province. Nghinh Ong is a cultural and religious festival of fishermen in the coastal areas of Bac Lieu province in particular, and the coastal provinces of the Mekong Delta in general. Despite the hot weather, people, especially those who make their living at sea, traveled from far away to the Ong Mausoleum to worship and pray for good fortune in the first fishing season of the year.
Source
Comment (0)