Fishing Festival

Fishing Festival - A journey out to sea full of hope The Fishing Festival is one of the traditional cultural beauties that is deeply spiritual, expressing the fishermen's respect for the sea and the gods. This is an opportunity for the children of the sea to pray for a new year with good weather and wind, calm seas and safe voyages filled with shrimp and fish. The Cau Ngu Festival was formed around the 14th century, during the Later Le Dynasty, and is an important ritual in the spiritual life of coastal people. Having gone through many historical events, in 1994, the People's Committee of Quynh Luu district, Nghe An province, restored traditional festival activities in Son Hai commune and other coastal localities. The festival shows fishermen's gratitude to the sea and the gods who shelter and protect them during their offshore trips. Every year, at the beginning of the first lunar month, coastal communes such as Van Hai, Thuan Long, Phu Nghia enthusiastically organize festivals with worshiping rituals, palanquin processions, and prayers for a good fishing year and to avoid natural disasters and storms. The Cau Ngu Festival is held with especially solemn rituals. Fishermen offer the gods typical offerings of the sea such as fish, squid, shrimp, crabs, along with banh chung, banh day, fruits and wine. The worshiping rituals are performed in a sacred atmosphere, expressing gratitude to the sea that has nourished generations of fishermen. During important moments of the festival, everyone lights incense sticks together, praying to the gods to bless them with safe voyages and a full cargo of shrimp and fish. In Van Hai commune, the festival usually takes place on January 12 and 13 at Thoi Temple, a nearly 700-year-old ancient temple facing the sea. This is the place to worship the Four Thanh Nuongs and river gods such as Sat Hai Dai Vuong. According to Mr. Hoang Son - Vice Chairman of Van Hai Commune People's Committee, the festival is organized with two main parts: the ceremony includes the opening ceremony, announcement ceremony, fishing ceremony, great ceremony, and thanksgiving ceremony at palanquin procession points; The festival part includes cultural activities, folk games and a solemn palanquin procession. Ornately decorated palanquins, symbolizing the sea gods, are brought to the Temple to conduct offerings, creating a sacred and colorful scene. After the solemn ceremony, the festival enters exciting fun activities, attracting a large number of people and tourists to participate. Folk games such as tug of war and boat racing are held right on the beach, creating a bustling atmosphere and connecting the community. In particular, the traditional boat racing competition brings vivid images of muscular young men skillfully controlling oars, boats gliding on the sea surface amid cheers and cheers. Not only does it demonstrate strength and ingenuity, the competition also affirms the spirit of solidarity and cooperation among fishermen. In Phu Nghia commune, the festival takes place on January 13 and 14 at Chinh Temple, which worships the Four Holy Mothers from the reign of King Tu Duc. This is an opportunity for fishermen to offer prayers, praying for a prosperous new year with good weather and peace for the country and people. The festival attracts a large number of locals and tourists to attend. Ms. Nguyen Thi Ngoc, a resident of Phong Tien village, said that the festival is not only an opportunity to express respect to the gods but also an opportunity for the fishing community to strengthen solidarity, sharing stories about the marine profession, difficulties and hopes for a new year of favorable exploitation. It can be said that the Cau Ngu festival in Quynh Luu is not only a unique cultural activity but also a symbol of the spirit of cohesion, belief in nature and folk beliefs. This is a valuable tradition, contributing to preserving maritime cultural identity and educating the young generation about the gratitude and resilient will of coastal people.