(Baonghean.vn) - Hau dong at Hoang Muoi Temple has long been considered a folk cultural belief to pray for health and peace. On the occasion of the Great Ceremony - Hoang Muoi Temple Festival in 2016, Hau dong activities took place regularly with hundreds of thousands of visitors coming to worship.
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| Visiting Hoang Muoi Temple on this occasion, visitors from all over can hear the bustling music, the murmuring of folk songs... This is an indispensable ritual in the worship of the Mother Goddesses of the Three Palaces and Four Palaces... |
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| Before each spirit mediumship session, the "disciples" will prepare the items at home. The preparation takes 1-2 days and the cost can range from tens to hundreds of millions for the savory and vegetarian offerings. Depending on the requests of the "disciples", the spirit mediumship sessions last from 4-8 hours. |
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| Paper offerings, effigies, horses... are indispensable items in spirit medium ceremonies. These items usually have the homeowner's name written on them and cost between 200,000 and 500,000 VND. |
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| In addition to the "male medium" and "female medium", there are also 2 to 4 "assistant mediums" or also known as nhi tru, tu tru hau dong to prepare costumes and ceremonies. These people must also be people with a predestined relationship to be guided by the male medium and female medium. The assistant mediums follow the male medium and female medium for 3 to 12 years and can then open their own temple. |
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| Regarding the costumes of the "male mediums" and "female mediums", there are usually many sets with many different colors. According to folk beliefs, there are corresponding prices for each price and the costumes must be fully prepared depending on the price. These costumes usually include red scarves covering the face, many long dresses with different colors, colored belts, ivory tags, silver necklaces, bracelets, flowers, lipstick, etc. Therefore, on each trip to serve the spirit, the male mediums and female mediums often bring 4-5 large suitcases containing their belongings. |
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| An indispensable activity in spirit mediumship sessions is spirit dancing. Spirit dancing is considered a form of performance that has been transformed, affirming the presence of the gods. |
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| Each dance move is different for each saint. |
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| An indispensable part of the spirit medium ceremony is singing Chau Van, which tells the stories of the saints while they are in the spirit world. And there will be an orchestra consisting of moon lutes, flutes, large and small drums, clappers, etc. playing music as a catalyst to help the spirit mediums ascend. |
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| Mr. Lam Dinh Huy from Gia Lam, Hanoi, who has been playing musical instruments in the spirit mediumship ceremony for 15 years, said that most musicians must be trained. The orchestra will be paid from 1 to 2 million and can be rewarded if during the spirit mediumship, the male and female mediums pat their knees with joy. |
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| After the spirit possession and singing performances, there is also a reward of money and fortune, including things like money, fruits, cakes, etc. People sitting around will come to pray or listen to the "saint" speak before the "saint ascends". |
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| Hau dong is a traditional cultural belief, but nowadays it has begun to show signs of distortion as more and more fake "male mediums" and "female mediums" appear. The excessive waste of money on offerings, burning votive paper, causing pollution... is also destroying the sacred values inherent in the Mother Goddess worship. Therefore, there needs to be stricter regulations and management to preserve and conserve ancient spiritual cultural features. |
Chu Thanh - Thanh Cuong
