A fishing boat is held up in a procession, as villagers pray for a bumper catch (Photo: VNA) ThuaThien-Hue (VNA) - The immense ocean and its intimidating ambiencehas always been unpredictable to the fishermen. Traditionally, fishermen havereposed their faith on supernatural forces, expecting them to ensure theirsafety during fishing trips and help them net bumper catch.
ThaiDuong Ha, a fishing village sitting on the coast of the central province of ThuaThien-Hue, holds a festival every three years to honour the supernatural forceswhich they believe govern the sea. During the festival, fishermen performrituals to gods entreating them for a safe fishing expedition and bumper catch.
Accordingto the elderly men in the village, the festival also includes a section tohonour the village’s founder Truong Thieu. Legend says that five hundred yearsago, Thieu left his home village in the central province of Thanh Hoa, arrivedhere and formed the village.
Hetaught locals how to fish and make fishing boats. A day before the 11th day ofthe first month, every three years, elderly men in the village makes offeringsto Thieu at a temple where he is worshipped, informing him of the organisationof the festival.
Theythen start the ritual ceremony for gods early morning, followed by entertainmentactivities, which include musical performances, re-enactment of the fishingactivity and selling of fish on the seaside, in addition to a boat race and aprocession, in which 102 families take part in celebrating the event.
Theprocession carries the offerings of the locals around the village, invokingtheir patron saint to have a look at their life. Meanwhile, the boat race isheld to entertain locals.
There-enactment of the life of fishermen is the biggest draw for villagers andvisitors. This makes the event a fun festival for residents in Thuan An town -the territory comprises the village - with people of all ages taking part inthe re-enactment.
Thevillage festival helps the present generation get acquainted with theirtradition, experts said.-VNA
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