The shrines are places of worship for whales/whales and other deities that protect fishermen at sea. This is a fishing-related belief; fishermen consider whales/whales as guardian deities, praying for calm seas, favorable winds, smooth sailing, good fortune, prosperity, and happiness. Every year, these shrines hold the Nghinh Ông Festival, such as: the Nam Hai Whale Shrine in Cay Bang hamlet, Tan Thanh commune, which holds its ceremony on the 18th and 19th of the first lunar month; the Nam Hai Whale Shrine in Den Do hamlet, Tan Thanh commune, which holds its ceremony from the 23rd to the 25th of the first lunar month; the Nam Hai Whale Shrine in Tan Phuoc commune, which holds its ceremony on the 15th of the fifth lunar month; and the Nam Hai Whale Shrine in Vam Lang town, which holds its ceremony on the 9th and 10th of the third lunar month.
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| The Nghinh Ông festival in Vàm Láng. Photo: LẬP ĐỨC |
Among the various Nghinh Ong festivals, the Nghinh Ong festival in Vam Lang town is considered the most representative. Before 1975, the Vam Lang Nghinh Ong festival was held on the 15th and 16th of the 6th lunar month every year; after 1975, the festival was held on the 9th and 10th of the 3rd lunar month every year to coincide with the anniversary of the death of National Ancestor Hung Vuong.
The Nghinh Ông Festival is the largest fishing festival for fishermen, deeply rooted in the traditions and beliefs of coastal communities. It has many different names, such as: the Whale Procession Festival, the Fishing Festival, the Whale Worship Festival, the Whale Offering Festival, the Nghinh Ông Festival, the Nghinh Ông Water General Festival… but all share the common belief that whales/whales are sacred creatures of the sea, saviors for fishermen and those working at sea in general.
The Nghinh Ong Festival at Vam Lang is cherished and respected by the local people as much as the traditional New Year; it is the largest fishing festival and professional festival in Tien Giang province, attracting a large number of people from within and outside the locality. Therefore, since ancient times, there has been a folk song in Vam Lang:
Nothing is more joyful than the Nghinh Ông Festival!
Lanterns, firecrackers, the river shrouded in light.
The party was attended by many guests.
The rich and the poor happily indulge in feasting and revelry for three days.
The belief in worshipping the Whale God is expressed through the Nghinh Ông Festival. This is a characteristic form of belief among people living along the coast, including fishermen who catch seafood at sea. Each form of folk belief has positive values that impact the cultural and spiritual life of people. On one hand, it serves as a spiritual anchor for people during times of difficulty and danger. On the other hand, it is also a place for preserving and developing folk beliefs in contemporary society.
So, when did the Nghinh Ông Vàm Láng Festival originate? According to Trịnh Hoài Đức's Gia Định Thành Thông Chí, the present-day Vàm Láng town was established in 1808 under the name Miếu Ông village. This was the only village in the former Định Tường district (now Tiền Giang province) with a purely Vietnamese name; all other villages were administrative place names with Sino-Vietnamese elements. Miếu Ông village means the village with a temple dedicated to the Whale/Ông fish.
Therefore, it can be affirmed that the belief in worshipping the Whale God and the Nghinh Ông Festival appeared in Vàm Láng at least as early as 1808. Thus, the Nghinh Ông Festival in Vàm Láng is considered a traditional festival of the coastal region of Gò Công Đông. The Nghinh Ông Festival is not only held in Vàm Láng town but is also solemnly celebrated in three other locations in Gò Công Đông district: the Nghinh Ông Festival in Cây Bàng hamlet and the Nghinh Ông Festival in Đèn Đỏ hamlet, both belonging to Tân Thành commune, and the Nghinh Ông Festival in Tân Phước commune.
Therefore, the Nghinh Ong Vam Lang Festival in particular, and the entire system of Nghinh Ong Festivals in Go Cong Dong district in general, deserve to be recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage in the future.
NGUYEN PHUC NGHIỆP
Source: https://baoapbac.vn/van-hoa-nghe-thuat/202505/le-hoi-nghinh-ong-vam-lang-co-tu-khi-nao-1041819/
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