The culture of spirit mediumship and the Mother Goddess festival in March.

The Vietnamese practice of worshipping the Mother Goddess of the Three Realms has been recognized by UNESCO as a representative intangible cultural heritage of humanity, captivating those who are passionate about traditional national culture. The practice of spirit mediumship during the Mother Goddess festival in March further enhances the solemnity and sacredness of this belief.

When mentioning the worship of the Three-Realm Mother Goddess, many people often associate it with the ritual of spirit possession or shamanism. However, as many folklore researchers have noted, the "representative of humanity" values ​​of this purely Vietnamese belief are created by a harmonious whole of many elements, including folk festivals, sacrificial rituals, feasts for the deities and the Mother Goddess, religious activities of the people, and the singing of Chau Van, or what we commonly call spirit possession. It can be seen that spirit possession is one of the most unique, prominent, and representative rituals of the worship of the Mother Goddess.

Cao Huy bronze statues are being prepared for installation in new bronze structures. Photo: Provided by the artist.

When performing the spirit medium ritual, it is usually done in the sacred space of a temple or shrine, especially during the Mother Goddess festival. The atmosphere of the spirit mediums here is particularly solemn and harmonious, blending music, lyrics, singing, and incense smoke. It seems that only in this space can those directly performing the ritual, or the spirit mediums, reach their most sublime state to invoke and invite the higher powers to witness the sincerity and wishes of their followers, disciples, and participants. Each spirit medium's performance essentially conveys the human desire for peace and happiness; therefore, the followers surrounding the spirit medium all hope for peace with the purest hearts.

Bronze statue of Cao Huy is encased in a bronze stand. Photo: Provided by the artist.

Cao Huy, a medium practicing the spirit medium ritual at the Mother Goddess shrine in Bim Son, Thanh Hoa, said: “The third lunar month is a special month for us mediums, as it is the month of the feast of Mother Goddess Lieu Hanh and several other Saints. Therefore, we often organize spirit medium rituals and pilgrimage activities at temples and shrines in Nghe An, Ha Tinh , and Thanh Hoa provinces to commemorate the merits of the Mother Goddess and pray for good fortune.” According to Cao Huy, each time the mediums perform the rituals at the Mother Goddess shrines, the sacred meaning is amplified, attracting more people and tourists from all over to come and admire the offerings. Some rituals last for more than an hour, yet people still crowd around, applauding and showing their appreciation.

People participate in a bidding process. Photo: Provided by the interviewee.

Cao Huy bronze statue in a bronze stand. Clip: Provided by the artist.

Every year in the third lunar month, followers of the Mother Goddess religion hold a ceremony commemorating the Mother Goddess, in which spirit possession rituals are considered one of the most important. From the music and costumes to the performances of the mediums, everything is meticulously prepared to achieve the utmost sacredness and solemnity. The spiritual beauty at the Mother Goddess temples creates a special atmosphere, contributing to the unique beauty and cultural value of the Vietnamese people.

Cao Huy, a medium, also stated: "Every year during the Mother Goddess festival in March, many people flock to the temples, especially when there are spirit medium rituals performed. Therefore, the fact that the mediums perform the rituals at this time further enhances the sacredness and spreads the beauty and goodness of the spirit medium ceremony. The people's response and understanding of the rituals make this ceremony deeply ingrained in their spiritual lives, thereby spreading the meaning of praying for peace and happiness in the hearts of the people, helping them live more virtuously…"

It is evident that the practice of spirit mediumship (Hau Dong) is deeply rooted in Vietnamese culture and has been preserved through many generations. Although UNESCO recognized the "Practices of the Tam Phu Mother Goddess Worship of the Vietnamese People" as a representative intangible cultural heritage of humanity at the end of 2016, recently there has been a situation where many artists, or those with a talent for singing Chau Van (a type of folk singing), have incorporated spirit mediumship into their stage performances. This violates UNESCO's principles regarding the "practices of the Tam Phu Mother Goddess worship." According to UNESCO regulations, the practice of spirit mediumship rituals should only be performed in Mother Goddess shrines within temples.

According to Cao Huy, a shaman, "When performing the shamanic ritual, participants have the opportunity to express their deep respect, honor, and gratitude to the deities. From there, they pray for good things for themselves and those around them… This is also considered a form of traditional education in culture, history, and the moral principle of remembering one's roots. However, if performed in the wrong space or location, it will backfire, and the shamanic ritual will become nothing more than a distorted form of entertainment."

A shamanic ritual performance by Cao Huy. Clip: Provided by the artist.

"August is the anniversary of the father's death, March is the anniversary of the mother's death" or "August is the feast for the father, March is the feast for the mother," this proverb has long been a beautiful aspect of Vietnamese spiritual culture. Therefore, this March, people returning to temples will be immersed in the unique cultural atmosphere of the spirit medium ritual.

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Source: https://baonghean.vn/van-hoa-hau-dong-and-tiec-mau-thang-3-10294191.html