(CLO) Cau Ngu Festival is a beautiful cultural feature of Cam Lam fishermen (Xuan Lien commune, Nghi Xuan district, Ha Tinh province), expressing deep gratitude to Whale - the guardian deity of those who are attached to the sea. At the same time, this is also an occasion for fishermen to pray for a year of favorable winds, bountiful catches and a peaceful life.
Whale Worship – The Spiritual Cultural Beauty of Cam Lam Fishermen
The custom of worshipping Whales (Ca Ong) associated with the Cau Ngu festival is a typical cultural feature of coastal residents, including Ha Tinh, contributing to preserving and enhancing the value of traditional beliefs and festivals in the national cultural treasure. In Cam Lam village (Xuan Lien commune, Nghi Xuan district), the custom of worshipping Whales occupies a particularly important position in the spiritual life of local people. Dong Hai Temple (also known as Ca Ong Temple), located in Lam Hoa village, is the place where the worship ceremony of Dong Hai Dai Vuong is held, which has been maintained for hundreds of years.
Hundreds of people attended the ceremony to receive the certificate recognizing Cam Lam Village's Fishing Festival as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage.
According to historical records, Cam Lam village was founded by three predecessors Tran Canh, Le Cong Toan and Nguyen Nhu Tien (some documents record Nguyen Nhat Tan), when they asked for a deserted sandy beach to reclaim and establish a village. From a barren land, Cam Lam has now become a prosperous fishing village. Fishing is closely associated with the long-standing customs of coastal residents. Legend has it that one morning, Cam Lam people discovered a whale skeleton drifting to the village's sandy beach. Because Whale is considered a guardian deity, often helping fishermen when they encounter trouble at sea, the people organized a solemn burial and set up an altar to worship him. Initially, the place of worship was just a simple house, but later, when life became better, the people built a solemn temple to worship him. This temple was later granted a royal decree by a king, honoring the god of the East Sea with the title: " The current ruler of the sea, the fisherman of the year, the most spiritual and responsive, the most virtuous god, bestowed upon him by three dynasties the title of "royal light, the most supreme and most sacred god".
Dong Hai Temple (in Lam Hai Hoa village, Xuan Lien commune) is the place associated with Cam Lam village's fishing festival.
Dong Hai Temple is located on an area of nearly 2,000m², with a T-shaped architecture, bringing a majestic and quiet beauty. In the middle of the temple is the Whale tomb covered with black granite. On both sides of the main hall are 17 Whale tombs buried in succession. Inside is an altar, on which are placed a set of three dragon thrones with gilded red lacquer tablets, along with incense bowls and traditional worship items. The temple still preserves four ancient royal decrees and in 2017, this place was recognized as a provincial-level Historical - Cultural Relic.
According to Mr. Dinh Trong Lien, Head of the Cam Lam Village Festival Committee, the custom of worshipping the Whale God has been associated with the Cau Ngu Festival of the local people for hundreds of years, and is also intertwined with the worship of the village's tutelary god. This is not only an important custom in the spiritual life of fishermen, but also shows deep gratitude to the Whale God - the guardian deity of the ocean. In addition, the festival is also an opportunity for fishermen to express their wishes for a smooth and peaceful year at sea, with trips full of shrimp and fish, bringing prosperity and prosperity to their homeland.
People carry the certificate to Cam Lam village...
Cau Ngu Festival - The biggest festival of the year for coastal fishermen
According to research documents, the Cau Ngu Festival in Cam Lam village dates back hundreds of years, associated with the worship of Ca Ong (whale) - the guardian deity of fishermen in the sea. The royal decrees kept at Dong Hai temple show that under the Nguyen dynasty, King Thanh Thai (in 1894) and King Khai Dinh (in 1924) issued royal decrees, assigning Cam Lam village (now Cam Lam village) to worship Dong Hai Cu Ngu Linh Ung Chi Than, also known as Dong Hai Linh Ung ton than. This worship is also associated with the Cau Ngu Festival - an important event in the spiritual life of the residents here.
Cau Ngu Festival in Cam Lam village is held on the full moon day of January every year, consisting of two parts: the ceremony and the festival.
Representative of the Department of Cultural Heritage of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism awarded the certificate of recognition of Cam Lam Village's Fishing Festival as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage to Xuan Lien Commune.
The ceremony took place solemnly with two main rituals: the offering ceremony at Dong Hai Temple and the procession of Dong Hai Dai Vuong to the sea. This is an opportunity for fishermen to pray for favorable weather, a bountiful fishing season and safe trips. The ceremonial committee was carefully selected, including virtuous and prestigious elders in the village, who were not in mourning. The chief worshiper offered the offerings and read the eulogy expressing gratitude to the Whale - the god who always protects fishermen at sea. The festival not only prays for fishing but also has the meaning of praying for blessings and peace, wishing for a year of "calm weather, smooth sailing, and a full hold of fish and shrimp".
The festival is a joyful and bustling space with many traditional cultural and sports activities. Fishermen and tourists participate in folk games such as traditional wrestling, boat racing, swimming, tug of war, beach volleyball, etc. In particular, the Kieu plays, Vi and Giam folk songs of Nghe Tinh performed by the village's art clubs have become indispensable features of the festival. When night falls, the ceremony of releasing lanterns on the sea and releasing boats to worship the souls of deceased fishermen takes place, creating a sacred spiritual space, attracting a large number of people and tourists.
The ceremony of welcoming Dong Hai Dai Vuong to the sea - a ritual in the fishing festival of Cam Lam village (Xuan Lien commune, Nghi Xuan).
Before each festival, the village is filled with a bustling atmosphere of preparation. Elders meet to discuss and assign tasks, while art teams practice their performances. The boat racing team prepares their boats and practices rowing, while the elders are absorbed in practicing chess. Women in the village prepare tube cakes – a traditional, fragrant, soft cake used during important ceremonies. The freshest seafood specialties are also selected to be processed and competed in during the village festival.
Despite the changes in times, the Cau Ngu Festival in Cam Lam village is still maintained with solemn rituals, imbued with the identity of the coastal region. In particular, every three years, the festival is held on a larger scale with important rituals such as the Whale Worship Ceremony, the procession of the Dong Hai Linh Ung god, and a series of rich traditional cultural activities. With its unique cultural and spiritual values, on February 21, 2024, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism officially recognized the Cau Ngu Festival in Cam Lam village as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Cam Lam village fishing festival takes place every year on the full moon day of January.
Fisherman Tran Hai Binh (Lam Vuong village, Xuan Lien commune) proudly shared: “ The Cau Ngu Festival carries deep cultural and spiritual values of fishermen, preserved by our ancestors through many generations. This year, the joy is even greater when the festival is recognized as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage”.
Tourist Minh Nam from Vinh City (Nghe An) expressed his impression: “ Coming to Cam Lam village, I not only got to see Xuan Lien beach with bustling boats going out to sea, but also got to immerse myself in a festival rich in cultural identity. The festival atmosphere was vibrant with many solemn rituals, along with unique folk art performances. This was truly a meaningful experience that helped me better understand the spiritual life of coastal fishermen.”
Xuan Lien commune held a solemn fishing festival with the participation of hundreds of people in the area.
Saying goodbye to Cam Lam village, visitors still have the impression of a rich coastal countryside, with festivals rich in identity and the hospitality of the people. In the midst of the joyful Spring, the bustling festival atmosphere has left in the hearts of many people deep emotions about humanity, love for the sea, and faith in a peaceful and fruitful year...
Source: https://www.congluan.vn/le-hoi-cau-ngu-lang-cam-lam-niem-tin-vao-mot-nam-binh-an-boi-thu-post332694.html
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