Rituals and ceremonies during the Fishing Festival in Van Loc commune.
The complex of historical sites includes the Thánh Cả shrine (the Cả temple dedicated to the four Holy Mothers), Liên Hoa pagoda, the shrine of the Whale God (Ngọc Lân god), the shrine commemorating 334 fishermen from the village who perished at sea in 1931, and the Nẹ Sơn temple (dedicated to King Thông Thủy Nẹ Sơn). Each temple within the complex is associated with a specific historical period, serving as evidence of the conquest of nature and the preservation of the nation's borders by generations of ancestors.
As someone born and raised in the fishing industry for many years, fisherman Nguyen Van Nam shared: "This cluster of historical relics is not only a sacred place of worship, but also a spiritual anchor, a place to preserve the traditional rituals and activities of the fishing village. Before each trip out to sea, I often come here to light incense."
Associated with the Diem Pho temple complex is the Fishing Festival, held annually in the second lunar month. The festival is not only an occasion to express gratitude and commemorate the contributions of ancestors who established the fishing village, maintained the fishing profession, and passed down valuable traditions from generation to generation, but also a way for people to express their hope for favorable weather, calm seas, and peaceful skies.
For the fishermen of Tien Trang commune, who spend their lives on boats and at sea, they place great importance on establishing shrines and temples to worship their deities and are deeply devoted to their worship. Therefore, the complex of Phuc Temple and Tay Son stele (formerly Quang Nham commune) – a place with a large fishing population – is always bustling with people coming to light incense and pray for safe and successful fishing trips.
Moreover, throughout their history and lives here, generations of fishermen have created customs and beliefs deeply rooted in the coastal region's identity, such as the custom of opening the sea to bring good luck at the start of a fishing season; the custom of worshipping the Whale God; the custom of offering sacrifices to the boat at the end of the year before the Lunar New Year holiday... Along with that are many unique festivals that are being preserved and promoted through generations, such as the horse racing festival, the village feast festival, the traditional boat racing festival, or traditional games like wrestling, martial arts, card games, and human chess...
The highlight is the traditional boat racing festival held annually from the 2nd to the 5th day of the Lunar New Year on the Yen River, attracting a large number of local people and tourists.
Mr. Le Van Hai from Duc village, a frequent participant in the traditional boat racing festival, said: "To participate in the festival, each team selects 20 people, including 18 rowers, 1 helmsman, and 1 person playing the drum. The racers are selected from strong, healthy young men with extensive seafaring experience. These are skilled riverine men chosen by the villages to compete. With the cheers and shouts of thousands of local people and tourists, the athletes compete with all their might, showcasing their skillful rowing techniques. Organizing the festival is not only to preserve the cultural beauty of the coastal people but also to demonstrate the ingenuity of fishermen in their fishing endeavors at sea."
Originating from a life of constant travel at sea, fishermen in the coastal region of Thanh Hoa province have collectively developed a unique system of customs, traditions, and beliefs. These also serve as a spiritual anchor, helping each fisherman remain steadfastly connected to their homeland's sea.
Text and photos: Nguyen Dat
Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/net-dep-tam-linh-cua-ngu-dan-mien-bien-287594.htm
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