The unique fishing prayer ceremony at Thanh Liet Temple festival.
(Baonghean.vn) - As part of the 2018 Thanh Liet Temple Festival, a fishing prayer ceremony on the Lam River took place on the morning of March 22nd in Hung Lam commune, Hung Nguyen district - a characteristic ritual of the riverine region.
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| The Thanh Liet Temple Festival begins with a procession and offering of sacrifices to the deity on the Lam River. Photo: Huy Thu |
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| Among the procession carrying the deity was an ancient wooden boat intricately carved with vivid patterns. This is a symbol of the fishermen of the Lam Giang river region and one of the most unique and beautiful artifacts of Thanh Liet Temple. Photo: Huy Thu |
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| Down by the riverbank, large boats were waiting. The entire procession would board these boats. The procession of the deity on the Lam River was organized as a respectful boat procession. Photo: Huy Thu |
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| The certificate designating the temple as a historical and cultural relic is placed respectfully on a ceremonial boat. Photo: Huy Thu |
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| The offerings for the ritual on the boat include altars, ceremonial objects, a palanquin, and items such as flowers, fruits, cakes, and gold coins… Photo: Huy Thu |
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| Two essential items on the offering tray are rice porridge with flowers and puffed rice. Photo: Huy Thu |
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| An ancient wooden boat sits atop a larger vessel. Photo: Huy Thu |
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| During the procession, two dragon boats, each manned by 12 unmarried men and 12 unmarried women, paddle around the procession, tapping out rhythms and singing folk songs from Nghe An province, engaging in call-and-response exchanges. (Photo: Huy Thu) |
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| The ceremony was held twice, lasting from 5 to 6 hours. The procession swam upstream on the Lam River to Phu beach (near Yen Xuan bridge) for the ceremony, then swam to the confluence of the La and Lam rivers to continue the Ky Yen ceremony. Photo: Huy Thu |
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| During the ceremony, the leader, holding a brass megaphone, urged the boats to row vigorously and shouted enthusiastically. Photo: Huy Thu |
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| After the rituals of inviting and offering sacrifices to the deities, the chief priest possesses a medium, gives orders, and scatters things like porridge, puffed rice, corn, rice, salt, and fruits into the river. This is also a ritual to pray for a bountiful fishing season, for peace and prosperity, for favorable weather, for an abundance of fish and shellfish, and for a bountiful harvest – a tradition deeply rooted in the culture of riverine communities. Photo: Huy Thu |
