Coastal residents believe that the whale is the incarnation of the God of the South Sea, a benevolent god who always helps fishermen overcome storms and saves people in trouble at sea.

When a whale (known locally as “Ông”) drifts ashore, the people reverently hold a solemn funeral and burial, establish a shrine for worship, which also serves as a place for cultural activities, community bonding, and remembrance of ancestors who contributed to safeguarding the sea and islands.

According to folk beliefs, the god of the South Sea - the god who always blesses fishermen to go to sea safely, have full holds of fish and shrimp, and have a prosperous and happy life. The Nghinh Than ceremony is an opportunity to preserve and promote the unique cultural traditions of the residents of Kien Hai island, and at the same time pray for prosperity for the village and the country.

Mr. Truong Van Duoc, Deputy Head of the Management Board of the Nam Hai Lang Ong Cultural Relic, said that the Nghinh Than ceremony is one of the most important ceremonies in the Nam Hai Lai Son Lang Than. The program opened with the majestic sound of the festival drum, signaling the sacred moment of the ceremony. This was followed by a dance performance to worship the Nam Hai God.

After the reading of the congratulatory text, performed by the Chief Priest and the Deputy Priest of the Nam Hai Lai Son Mausoleum, the special zone authorities, people and tourists burned incense to the Nam Hai God and remembered their ancestors - the predecessors who had the merit of founding and building the Lai Son island craft village.

The procession to welcome the Gods takes place solemnly and dignifiedly, led by the lion and dragon troupe, followed by students, volunteer soldiers, ceremonial student teams, the sacrificial committee, the Ong palanquin, elders, local government leaders, people and tourists.

At Nghinh Ong wharf, the God's palanquin will be invited onto the Nghinh boat, leading a large group of fishermen's boats. Arriving at the Nghinh Than point offshore, the celebrant will offer offerings and read traditional prayers for peace. The ritual of releasing flowers and offerings into the sea is meant to pray for peace and a bountiful harvest. Dozens of fishing boats and ships of Lai Son fishermen and the surrounding area join the Nghinh Ong procession.

The unique sea God Welcoming Ceremony is characterized by the ritual of inviting the spirit to the sea with the participation of boats decorated with colorful flags and banners, along with offerings expressing the desire for peace, favorable weather and a bountiful harvest, with a hold full of fish and shrimp.

This is a unique folk belief of fishermen, combining spiritual and traditional cultural elements, attracting both locals and tourists. Attending the Nghinh Than ceremony on Lai Son island for the first time, Mr. Nguyen Tuan Hai, a tourist from Chau Doc ward, shared: “I am very impressed with the unique rituals, imbued with the traditional characteristics of the coastal people, especially the image of the ships sailing out to sea together to perform the ceremony, very beautiful…”.

Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee, Chairman of the People's Committee of Kien Hai Special Zone Chau Hung Ky said that over 2 days (December 04 and 05, corresponding to October 15 and 16 of the lunar calendar), the Lai Son Whale Festival in Kien Hai Special Zone took place in a solemn and respectful atmosphere, leaving a beautiful impression in the hearts of people and tourists from near and far.

Over hundreds of years, the Lai Son Whale Festival has become an indispensable part of the spiritual life of the local residents, a typical festival not only of the Lai Son people, but also of the entire western sea of An Giang province.

Not only having profound religious significance, the Nghinh Ong Lai Son Festival is also an important cultural and tourism highlight, contributing to promoting the image of the people and sea of An Giang to visitors from near and far, promoting local economic and tourism development, making An Giang increasingly become an attractive destination in the Mekong Delta./.

News by Trung Hieu

Translator: Thi Huynh