Whale Festival - cultural beauty of Kien Hai fishermen

The Whale Festival originates from the fishermen's custom and belief in worshipping totems and has become an indispensable part of the spiritual and cultural life of the people of Kien Hai coastal area for generations. Every year, on the 15th and 16th of the 10th lunar month, the Whale Festival in Lai Son is solemnly and bustlingly held according to the fishermen's custom and belief in worshipping totems. According to folk beliefs, the Whale is a sacred creature, revered as the Great General of the South Sea - the god who protects seafarers, especially when encountering big waves, strong winds or unexpected dangers. The festival therefore becomes an occasion for fishermen to express their gratitude to the Great General of the South Sea, wishing for favorable weather and a peaceful, safe sea season.

A corner of Lai Son Island. Photo: LE TRUNG HIEU

With the theme “Kien Hai Special Zone - Aspiration to Reach Far”, the Lai Son Whale Festival consists of two parts: the ceremony and the festival. In addition to the main Nam Hai Whale Festival, there are other ceremonies such as inviting the gods, praying for peace, praying for the dead, and welcoming the army…

The festival will feature many meaningful and unique cultural, artistic and sports activities such as: Artistic opening program to welcome the festival; Cross-country race around Lai Son island "For a green Hon Son" in An Giang province in 2025; football tournament, badminton tournament; exhibition of documentary images of the sea, islands and scenic spots of Kien Hai associated with the golden bell contest. This festival also organizes activities to serve people in reading and displaying books; space for displaying, introducing and promoting tourism; promoting OCOP products, typical rural industrial products, typical products of the province and special zones; organizing culinary booths...

The route around Lai Son island is hung with banners and slogans promoting the Whale Festival. Photo: LE TRUNG HIEU

These days, the road around Lai Son Island is decorated more beautifully with billboards and slogans promoting the Nghinh Ong festival, creating a bustling atmosphere. Not only local people, but also many tourists from all over Lai Son Island are eager to participate in the festival. People come together to Lang Ong Nam Hai to clean up and prepare everything carefully so that the festival can take place solemnly and safely. "This is the heart of the people with the Nghinh Ong festival, praying for favorable weather, especially for fishermen's sea trips to be safe and favorable," said Mr. Nguyen Van Hai, resident of Bai Nha A hamlet, Kien Hai special zone.

Chairman of the Kien Hai Special Zone People's Committee Chau Hung Ky said that the special zone has carefully prepared facilities to serve the festival activities. The festival venues are spacious, convenient for travel, and serve the people and tourists participating in the festival well. In addition, the locality coordinates with provincial departments and branches to develop plans to ensure security, order, traffic safety; fire prevention and fighting; hygiene and food safety, helping people and tourists feel secure when participating in activities during the festival.

According to Mr. Chau Hung Ky, the Nghinh Ong festival not only has religious and cultural values but is also an event that attracts a large number of tourists to the Kien Hai sea area. This is an opportunity for people to understand more about the life and culture of coastal fishermen, and at the same time, it is an opportunity to promote unique cultural and tourism products of the locality. In the coming time, the Party Committee, the government and the people of Kien Hai special zone will focus on managing, exploiting, preserving and promoting the traditional cultural values of the Nghinh Ong festival. At the same time, mobilize all resources to join hands to build, protect, preserve and contribute to creating a more beautiful and greener Kien Hai homeland.

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