Discover the Hau Loc Cau Ngu Festival, a unique ritual of sea fishermen

1. Overview of the Hau Loc Whale Worshipping Festival

1.1. Hau Loc Whale Worshipping Festival - National Intangible Cultural Heritage

Nestled amidst the murmuring waves of the Central region, the Hau Loc Whale Worshipping Festival echoes like ancient drumbeats harmonizing with the ocean's roar. Since being honored as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in 2017, this event has become a source of pride for the local people.

The Hau Loc fish-worship festival is an occasion for everyone to express their reverence for the sea gods. (Source: Collected)

The Hau Loc fish-worship festival is held regularly every year on the 22nd to 24th of the 2nd lunar month, around late March to early April of the solar calendar, precisely when the land of Thanh Hoa is vibrant with the life of spring. This is when fishermen prepare for their voyages, marking the beginning of a new, hopeful fishing season.

For the fishing community, the festival's meaning is extremely profound. This festival is closely tied to spiritual life, serving as an occasion for everyone to express reverence for the sea gods, and to send wishes for a year of favorable weather, a peaceful country, and a bountiful fishing season.

1.2. Location and Community Organizing the Festival

Van Loc commune, Thanh Hoa province is where the colorful Hau Loc fish-worship festival is held. This area belongs to the Diem Pho relic cluster, a land that was once the center of an ancient fishing community, embodying the vibrant life of the sea and the traditions of ancestors.

This coastal region is the cradle preserving unique maritime culture; the image of coracles gliding gently on the waves and the salty breeze blowing from the distant sea contribute to the distinct spirit of every resident here.

The Hau Loc fish-worship festival attracts a large number of residents from Van Loc commune and surrounding coastal communities. Beyond mere entertainment, it is a significant event that showcases the distinctive culture of the coastal region, strengthens community bonds, and cultivates local pride.

2. History and Origin of the Hau Loc Fish-Worship Festival

2.1. Where Did the Fish-Worship Festival Originate?

According to historical records, the Hau Loc fish-worship festival is known as the Cau Mat festival, formed in the 12th century during the Le dynasty, when the fishing village of Diem Pho was newly established. The festival is associated with the pioneering efforts and the establishment of the fishing trade by the ancestors of this land.

The name Diem Pho is not just a mark of a coastal village but also a story of hardworking and resilient people. They built villages, making fishing their main occupation, and worshipped deities such as Tu Vi Thanh Nuong, Dong Hai Dai Vuong, and the revered whale, considered the protector of fishermen amidst the storms.

From the very beginning of the village's establishment, the Hau Loc fish-worship festival has become a bond between the people and the sea, between the past and the present, forming the foundation of a distinctive and enduring maritime culture.

2.2. Spiritual and Cultural Significance of the Festival

For fishermen, the Hau Loc fish-worship festival carries profound spiritual significance. It is an occasion to remember ancestors, those who built the fishing village and trade, and to thank the deities for protecting the community through countless fishing seasons.

Each ritual, each artistic performance shares a common purpose: to convey prayers for safe voyages, prosperous families, and protection from unforeseen risks. The rhythm of the festival drums echoes like earnest messages, bolstering the people's spirits before the vast sea.

The Hau Loc Fish Worship Festival is a symbol of the bond between generations of coastal fishermen. (Source: Compiled)

Culturally, the Hau Loc Fish Worship Festival is a symbol of the bond between generations of coastal fishermen. The festival preserves the good customs and traditions of our ancestors, cultivates the will to protect the islands, and continues the homeland traditions of the younger generation.

3. What is special about the Hau Loc Fish Worship Festival?

3.1. Festival Time and Schedule

For three days from the 22nd to the 24th of the second lunar month, the Hau Loc Fish Worship Festival brings a vibrant cultural atmosphere to Van Loc commune. The festival usually begins with solemn palanquin processions and Long Chau boat processions, creating a sacred atmosphere spreading throughout the coastal village roads.

The highlight of the festival in recent years is the Long Chau procession ritual. (Source: Collected)

The highlight of the festival in recent years is the Long Chau procession ritual, which has attracted the attention of many locals and tourists. The Long Chau boat is made from bamboo, rattan, nipa palm, and paper, shaped like a majestic dragon, symbolizing the deity protecting the fishing profession.

The activities of the ritual and festival parts are interwoven harmoniously. After the solemn rituals, the atmosphere becomes lively with folk art performances and traditional games that take place vibrantly, lasting for three days of the festival.

3.2. Notable Traditional Rituals

The palanquin procession and Long Chau boat procession are traditional highlights of the Hau Loc Fish Praying Festival . The Long Chau boat, mimicking the shape of a dragon, is paraded from Bac Tho village to the festival venue in a solemn atmosphere. The procession includes many palanquins such as the Buddha palanquin, Mother Goddess palanquin, Bat Cong palanquin, Ong Fish palanquin, and King Ne Son palanquin, each carrying its own significance.

The sacrificial rites, incense offering, reading of the prayer text, and the sound of festival drums blend to create a spiritual symphony. The people respectfully offer sacrifices to the sea god and the Three Jewels Buddha, praying for peace, luck, and prosperity for the community. The prayer text is read in a sacred space, and the sound of festival drums echoes, signaling the imminent start of the festival activities.

All rituals in the Hau Loc Fish Praying Festival focus on one objective: praying for calm seas and favorable weather, abundant catches, peaceful lives, and national prosperity. These rituals demonstrate the people's sincere reverence for the sea.

3.3. Lively Festival with Traditional Games

After the sacred rituals, the Hau Loc Fish Praying Festival transitions into a festive atmosphere with traditional games associated with the fishing profession. Squid fishing contests, net weaving, and folk singing duels are opportunities to test skills and allow fishermen to interact and learn from each other.

Folk music resonates throughout the festival grounds. Festival drums, lion dances, Chau Van melodies, Luu Thuy music, and human chess performances... take place continuously, contributing to a joyful and exciting atmosphere. Each performance is a soul of maritime culture, recounting stories associated with the lives of fishermen throughout history.

Sports activities and community exchanges are also prominent highlights of the Hau Loc Fish Praying Festival . Many traditional games are organized, creating opportunities for coastal villages to bond and build community solidarity.

3.4. Concluding Ritual: Sending the Long Chau Boat back to the Sea

The final moments of the Hau Loc Fish Praying Festival always leave a deep impression. The ritual of sending the Long Chau boat back to the sea is performed as the Long Chau boat is gently released into the water, symbolizing the entrustment of good wishes to the sea god.

The scene of the Long Chau boat drifting gently with the current evokes a sense of wistfulness, creating a connection between people and the sea. This is the time when everyone collectively entrusts their hopes for a peaceful year, calm seas, abundant catches, and protection for future fishing trips.

The sound of the waves is like a message from the ocean, silently receiving the people's wishes. Even though the festival ends, the spiritual significance of the Hau Loc Fish Praying Festival remains intertwined with the lives of fishermen throughout the years.

4. Cultural, Social, and Economic Values of the Festival

4.1. The Hau Loc Fish Praying Festival in the Spiritual Life of Fishermen

For fishermen, the Hau Loc Fish Praying Festival is like a guiding light in their souls. The festival days are filled with faith and motivation, helping them firmly stick to the sea and overcome the challenges of their profession.

Not only a place for spiritual devotion, the fish praying festival also fosters solidarity and collective effort among community members. Through festival activities, fishermen unite to protect sovereignty, develop a sustainable marine economy, and turn difficulties into motivation for progress.

The event also serves to strengthen connections between coastal villages, enhancing community solidarity. On each fishing trip, fishermen carry the faith of being protected by the sea god, giving them more confidence and hope on their livelihood journey in the vast ocean.

4.2. Preserving and Promoting Maritime Cultural Identity

The Hau Loc Fish Praying Festival acts as a bridge, transmitting traditional cultural values to the younger generation. Through each ritual and activity, children are exposed to and learn about the customs and fishing practices of their ancestors, fostering pride in their homeland's origins.

The participation of children and youth from Van Loc commune, from preparation to joining the Long Chau procession and performing artistic items, demonstrates the effectiveness of preserving traditional values. They are not just spectators but also direct inheritors and disseminators of the festival's spirit.

The Hau Loc Fish Praying Festival is a link between the past and the present, helping the younger generation understand their homeland's history and culture more deeply. Consequently, the maritime cultural identity is preserved and developed, creating a solid foundation for the sustainability of the local community.

4.3. Attracting Tourism and Socio-Economic Development

Large numbers of tourists from all regions come to the Hau Loc Cau Ngu (Fish Praying) festival to experience and participate in unique rituals. (Source: Collected)

Each season of the Hau Loc Cau Ngu festival, large numbers of tourists from all regions come to Van Loc commune to experience and participate in unique rituals. The festival has helped the Hau Loc coastal area become a prominent cultural destination of Thanh Hoa, spreading a beautiful image to domestic and international tourists.

The development of services catering to the festival also contributes to increasing income for local people. Service industries, specialty products, accommodation, and cuisine are all promoted for synchronized development, thereby contributing to the socio-economic development of the area.

Furthermore, in the future, the Huyen Tich Am Tien project is a new cultural destination being nurtured, promising to open up more tourism connection opportunities between the Hau Loc coastal area and neighboring regions. Upon completion, the project will contribute to diversifying tourist experiences, adding a meaningful stopover on the journey to explore the culture and spirituality of Thanh Hoa.

The Hau Loc Cau Ngu festival is not only an intangible cultural heritage of Thanh Hoa but also a symbol of the spirit of venturing out to sea and staying by the coast of the coastal people. The festival contributes to building a rich maritime cultural image, creating momentum for community and local development in the new era.