Nghinh Ong Festival, an event for fishermen to show their respect for whales and gratitude for a bumper catch, began in Can Gio district of Ho Chi Minh City on October 3.
The opening ceremony of the festival (Source: voh.com.vn)
HCM City (VNA) - Nghinh Ong Festival, anevent for fishermen to show their respect for whales and gratitude for a bumpercatch, began in Can Gio district of Ho Chi Minh City on October 3.
The Nghinh Ong Festival in Can Gio, held annually aroundthe fifteenth day of the eighth lunar month, is taking place in the coastaltown of Can Thanh until October 5.
Huynh Thanh Nhan, Director of HCM City Department ofCulture and Sports, said the festival honours ancestors who established thenation and those who died to protect the country. It also helps the cityintroduce its history, cultural traits and destinations to visitors.
The event includes will rituals and festive activities,including a pilgrimage to Rung Sac (Sac Forest) War Martyrs Cemetery toremember soldiers who died to protect the country, a rite to pay tribute tofounders of the land and a ceremony for local fishermen to celebrate the bumpercatch.
The organisers will host exhibitions showcasing photosand objects of the Can Gio Mangrove Biosphere Reserve and fishing activities oflocal fishermen, and arrange a cuisine street to introduce dishes from thecoastal district.
The festival also features a procession from the sea toOng Thuy Tuong Temple (Temple Worshiping the Whale), a release of lanterns tothe sea, folk games, lion dances and other traditional performances.
The festival expects to attract about 100,000 visitorsthis year.
The Nghinh Ong Festival in Can Gio was regconised asNational Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2013.-VNA
Thousands of visitors flocked to the Nghinh Ong or Nghinh Ong Quan Thanh De Quan Festival in Phan Thiet city, the central coastal province of Binh Thuan, on August 26-28.
Ho Chi Minh City’s Can Gio outlying district is preparing for its annual Nghinh Ong Festival, to be held next week to show fishermen’s respect for the whale and gratitude for a bumper catch.
A Nghinh Ong or whale worshipping festival is taking place in Vung Tau city, the southern province of in Ba Ria – Vung Tau, attracting crowds of local people and tourists.
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The opening ceremony of the festival (Source: voh.com.vn) 
