The Feast and Commemoration Festival for Hoang Sa (Paracel) flotillasoldiers (Le khao le the linh Hoang Sa) was held in An Hai communaltemple, Ly Son island, the central province of Quang Ngai on April 5.
Therituals, held annually for hundreds of years on the island in thesecond month of the lunar calendar, is a tribute to the sailor-soldierswho left their homeland to tap natural resources and safeguard thecountry’s sovereignty.
According to Vietnam’sfeudal state history, the Hoang Sa flotilla was set up to patrol theHoang Sa and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagos to explore resources anddefend national island sovereignty when the Nguyen Lords began theirreign in the south of the country.
Thousands of sailors overcameroaring waves and storms to survey sea routes, plant milestones anderect steles affirming national territory in Hoang Sa and Truong Sa, andextract marine resources at orders by the Nguyen Lords. Their missionswere full of dangers, and many of them never returned.
Duringthe rituals, paper boats with effigies of sailors are launched into theseas and respects are paid to the lost sailors’ symbolic tombs.
The ceremony is observed in Ly Son and many coastal areas in Quang Ngai.
Earlier on April 4, An Hai commune held a ceremony praying for the Agriculture God’s support to a bumper crop in the year.-VNA
Therituals, held annually for hundreds of years on the island in thesecond month of the lunar calendar, is a tribute to the sailor-soldierswho left their homeland to tap natural resources and safeguard thecountry’s sovereignty.
According to Vietnam’sfeudal state history, the Hoang Sa flotilla was set up to patrol theHoang Sa and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagos to explore resources anddefend national island sovereignty when the Nguyen Lords began theirreign in the south of the country.
Thousands of sailors overcameroaring waves and storms to survey sea routes, plant milestones anderect steles affirming national territory in Hoang Sa and Truong Sa, andextract marine resources at orders by the Nguyen Lords. Their missionswere full of dangers, and many of them never returned.
Duringthe rituals, paper boats with effigies of sailors are launched into theseas and respects are paid to the lost sailors’ symbolic tombs.
The ceremony is observed in Ly Son and many coastal areas in Quang Ngai.
Earlier on April 4, An Hai commune held a ceremony praying for the Agriculture God’s support to a bumper crop in the year.-VNA
