Cau Ngu (whale worship) festival is part of the cultural identity of Vietnam’s central and southern coastal localities, which has been preserved and passed down through the generations.
Annual whale worshipping festivals at fishing villages are a spiritual ritual of fishing communities in coastal Vietnam (Photo: VNA)
The festival marks the end of the lunar New Year holidays among fishing communities and fishermen would set sail on new fishing trips afterwards (Photo: VNA)
Participants pray for plenteous hauls of fish, safe voyages, and peace for the nation (Photo: VNA)
The festival features a wide variety of ceremonies and rituals, of which the whale worshipping ceremony is the most important activity, attracting the participation of numerous fishermen (Photo: VNA)
Elderly fisherman perform rituals before palanquin procession (Photo: VNA)
Opening ceremony: A procession of the god of the sea is carried by local fishermen as a prelude for the fishing festival in Da Nang (Photo: VNA)
Following the rituals are community activities, such as folk performances and tuong (classical opera) singing (Photo: VNA)
Annual whale worshipping festivals at fishing villages are a spiritual ritual of fishing communities in coastal Vietnam (Photo: VNA)
Robert Walts, an American fisherman, is amazed to know about the whale worshipping in Vietnam (Photo: VNA)
Opening ceremony: A procession of the god of the sea is carried by local fishermen as a prelude for the fishing festival in Da Nang (Photo: VNA)
Photo: VNA
Photo: VNA
Elderly fishermen perform rituals before palanquin procession (Photo: VNA)
Photo: VNA
During the festival, in addition to performing Tuong classical opera and chanting melodies, local artists also sing and dance to promote unity between fishermen on a boat to overcome big waves, strong winds and earn bumper catches (Photo: VNA)
Participants pray for plenteous hauls of fish, safe voyages, and peace for the nation (Photo: VNA)
Recognition: National Intangible Heritage certificate for the Cau Ngu festival is presented to a representative of the city of Da Nang, Feb. 20, 2019 (Photo: VNA)
A ceremony was held in Thanh Khe district of the central city of Da Nang, on February 20 to receive the certificate recognising the district’s Cau Ngu (whale worship) festival on the national list of intangible cultural heritage.
Every year, on the first Full Moon Festival of the Lunar New Year, fishermen in Quang Binh province gather to celebrate Cau Ngu (Fish Worshipping Festival.
