On February 18, at Ong Duyen Hai mausoleum (in Vinh Lac hamlet, Vinh Thinh commune, Hoa Binh district, Bac Lieu), Bac Lieu province's authorities solemnly organized the Nghinh Ong festival with many exciting activities of coastal fishermen.
People go to the sea to celebrate the Whale Festival
This is one of the large-scale festivals in Bac Lieu province as well as the Mekong Delta region, attracting a large number of people, tourists, especially fishermen, to come and pray for luck and smooth sailing in the new year.
Many fishing boats go out to sea to celebrate the Whale Festival.
According to Mr. Nguyen Viet Hung, Vice Chairman of Vinh Thinh Commune People's Committee, this year's Nghinh Ong festival takes place for 3 days (from February 17 to 19), attracting thousands of tourists and fishermen from coastal provinces and cities in the Mekong Delta region such as Bac Lieu, Ca Mau, Soc Trang, Ben Tre, Tra Vinh, Kien Giang... to participate.
Fishing boats celebrate Whale Festival at sea
According to Thanh Nien reporters, on the morning of February 18, at Ong Duyen Hai mausoleum - where a 16-meter-long whale skeleton weighing about 15 tons is displayed, thousands of people from coastal provinces and cities were present here to wait for the moment of the parade to welcome Ong from the sea to the mausoleum to perform a worship ceremony and give thanks according to the customs and practices of coastal fishermen.
The sound of gongs and drums resounds on fishing boats going out to sea to welcome Ong.
According to the organizers, the ceremony began with a parade, welcoming the God from the sea with the participation of many fishing boats of local fishermen in the bustling sound of gongs and drums according to the traditional ritual of the people, praying for favorable weather, favorable winds, and boats going out to sea full of fish and shrimp...
The procession of Ong to Ong Duyen Hai's tomb
Accordingly, a group of 3 fishing boats carrying many people went from inside Lang Ong to Cai Cung estuary (Hoa Binh district) to hold a ceremony to welcome Ong into the mausoleum. The boats were decorated with flags and flowers, with the sound of lion dance drums, the sound of engines resounding throughout the area, along with the cheers of people on both sides of the river, creating a bustling, jubilant atmosphere.
Worship ceremony in Ong Duyen Hai tomb
Mr. Tran Van Hai (a fisherman in Nha Mat Ward, Bac Lieu City) shared that, as usual, every year after the Lunar New Year, his family is busy buying offerings to Ong Duyen Hai Temple to pray for good luck. Fishermen show their respect during the Nghinh Ong festival, praying for peace for fishermen in coastal areas amidst big waves and strong winds. For fishermen going to sea, they always pray for smooth sailing and a bountiful fishing season.
Ong Duyen Hai Temple displays a 16-meter-long whale skeleton, weighing about 15 tons, considered rare and the largest in the West.
Mr. Nguyen Viet Hung added that this year's Nghinh Ong festival was organized carefully and was more lively than before. The festival featured many unique and exciting cultural and artistic activities such as: organizing folk games, performing arts, displaying fishing tools of fishermen...
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