Thanh Hoa’s festival recognised national intangible cultural heritage
A ceremony was held in Ngu Loc commune, Hau Loc district, Thanh Hoa province on Apr 6 to kick off the Cau Ngu festival and receive a certificate recognising it a national intangible cultural heritage.
Thanh Hoa (VNA) – A ceremony was held in Ngu Loc commune, Hau Locdistrict, the central province of Thanh Hoa, on April 6 to kick off the Cau Ngu(Whale worshipping) festival and receive a certificate recognising it anational intangible cultural heritage.
Cau Ngu festival is a unique cultural feature of coastallocalities, which has been preserved and passed down through many generations.The festival is to pray for bumper hauls of fish, safe voyages and peace forthe nation.
The festival in Ngu Loc commune is considered the largest ofits kind not only in Thanh Hoa but also across north central localities,attracting thousands of visitors.
The main ritual in the festival is a procession of Long Chauboat from Bac Tho village to a platform at the commune’s stadium, where prayingwill be conducted every day during the festival.
On the last day of the festival, the Long Chau boat will beburned at the seaside.
Many festivities are also held during the event, includesquid catching and fishing net drawing competitions, a Chinese chess contest,and art performances.-VNA
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism recently recognised several new items as national intangible cultural heritage, raising the total number to 228.
Cau Ngu Festival, or Whale Worshipping Festival, is a cultural identity of south central coastal localities, which has been preserved and passed down through generations.
More than 4,000 people took part in the annual Nghinh Ong (Whale Worship) Festival that fishermen in the Mekong province of Bac Lieu honour the giant marine mammals.
The Cau Ngu Festival kicked off in Canh Duong commune, Quang Trach district, central Quang Binh province on March 2 with a hope for bumper hauls of fish and safe voyages in the year.
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Procession of Long Chau boat (Source: baomoi.com) 
