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

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 types of flowers to prepare for the Ba bathing ceremony on the night of May 30 and 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, and lotuses that are boiled together. The task of boiling water for the Lady of the Land's bath is undertaken by the female members of the Association of the Sam Mountain Temple Management Board.

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

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 ceremony to carry the statue of the Lady from the top of Sam Mountain was held at 3:00 p.m. on May 29, with 9 girls carrying her down the mountain according to the ancient ritual. The ceremony attracted thousands of locals and tourists.

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 to perform the bathing ritual are placed.

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

9 virgin girls join the procession of the Lady down the mountain - Photo: CHI HANH

The place where the Lady is being carried on Sam Mountain - Photo: CHI HANH

Art performance after bringing the Lady back to the temple - Photo: CHI HANH

The ceremony of welcoming the Lady of Sam Mountain - Photo: CHI HANH

The journey to bring her down the mountain - Photo: CHI HANH

Girls selected to participate in the 2024 Sam Mountain Lady Festival - Photo: CHI HANH

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/nau-9-loai-hoa-cho-le-tam-ba-chua-xu-nui-sam-20240530171429236.htm