Cook 9 kinds of flowers for the bathing ceremony of Ba Chua Xu in Sam mountain

9 loài hoa được nấu cùng nước tinh khiết để tắm Bà Chúa Xứ núi Sam - Ảnh: CHÍ HẠNH — 9 types of flowers are boiled with pure water to bathe the Lady of Sam Mountain - Photo: CHI HANH

On May 30, the Organizing Committee of the Ba Chua Xu Festival on Sam Mountain, combining the 10th anniversary of the festival being included in the list of national intangible cultural heritage (2014-2024), organized a ceremony to boil water with 9 kinds of flowers to prepare for the Ba bathing ceremony on the night of May 30 and the early morning of May 31 (April 23 and 24 of the lunar calendar).

There are 9 types of flowers including red lilies, yellow chrysanthemums, white lilies, gerberas, royal poincianas, butterfly pea flowers, roses, jasmine flowers, and lotus flowers that are boiled together. The task of boiling water for the Lady of the Realm's bath is undertaken by the female members of the Sam Mountain Temple Management Board.

The flowers used to bathe the Lady are chosen to be fresh. The water used to boil the flowers is purified and boiled in a copper pot. Then the flowers are added to create a fragrant scent.

Bỏ hoa vào nước để nấu - Ảnh: CHÍ HẠNH — Put flowers in water to cook - Photo: CHI HANH

The 2024 Ba Chua Xu Festival of Sam Mountain opened on the night of May 28. The current ceremony to carry the statue of the Lady from the top of Sam Mountain was held at 3 p.m. on May 29, with 9 girls carrying her down the mountain according to the ancient ritual. The current ceremony attracted thousands of locals and tourists to attend.

At exactly 0:00 on the night of May 30 and early morning of May 31, leaders of An Giang province, Chau Doc city, agencies, departments, branches, Sam mountain mausoleum management board, ceremony board, Ba bathing group, and elders will conduct the incense offering ceremony, tea and wine offering.

The red velvet curtain is drawn to cover the altar where the statue of the Lady and the 9 women chosen will perform the bathing ritual.

Image of the procession of the Lady from Sam Mountain to the temple: