Festival connecting generations
Fishermen in Nam O fishing village have been busy preparing for the Cau Ngu Festival for many days. Boats are gathered, offerings such as paper clothes, ducks, and pigs are neatly arranged on rafts, waiting for a large ship to carry them out to sea and place them in the middle of the sea. During the Nghinh Ong Festival, fishermen line up in long rows, solemnly participating in the worship ceremony, focusing their eyes on the open sea.
Standing among his fellow fishermen, Mr. Phan Duoc (63 years old, residing in Hoa Hiep Nam ward, Lien Chieu district) reminisced about his youth, the days of fishing with his family since he was 16 years old. Now, old and weak, he has switched to going by small boat, leaving at 2am and returning at dawn.
“The festival is a world of memories. When I was little, my parents used to take me to the village temple, when I grew up I participated, now it is the children and grandchildren’s turn,” he shared with pride.
For Mr. Duoc, the Cau Ngu Festival is not only important but also sacred, an occasion to express gratitude to the god of the South Sea - Whale - who always protects fishermen on their trips to sea.
And Mr. Phan Cong Quang (38 years old, Mr. Duoc's eldest son) continues the tradition, now the main manager, from village meetings to applying for permits to organize. "I taught my son from a young age, taking him to Lang Ong to point out the whale bones, telling him stories about his grandfather going to sea. Seeing him both follow the seafaring profession and handle everything well, I am very happy," Mr. Duoc smiled, the wrinkles on his face relaxing with happiness.
Innovation but not "color change"
A few streets away, the family of Duong Van Viet (44 years old, residing in Hoa Hiep Nam ward, Lien Chieu district) also contributed to the preparations. His family has been fishing for three generations, from his grandfather to his five brothers, all of whom are fishermen. This is the second year he has participated in the festival. Despite being busy with preparations, he still regularly sets sail at 2am and returns to shore at dawn.
According to Mr. Viet, in recent years, the Cau Ngu Festival has more activities than before, with boat racing, soccer... unlike before when it was just a simple worship ceremony.
According to Mr. Nguyen Ba Nam, Deputy Head of the Department of Culture and Information of Lien Chieu District, the Nam O Fishing Festival is the main event of the year, closely associated with the lives of fishermen. Every year, the local government coordinates with the people to create the best conditions to organize the festival, both encouraging innovation and maintaining the identity in line with the times.
To further develop, Lien Chieu District People's Committee is surveying and shaping cultural and spiritual tours and working with tourism agencies to select typical destinations, attract tourists and promote the local image. At the same time, applying digital transformation to spread, preserve cultural values and develop sustainably.
Comment (0)