Thousands of people participate in the palanquin procession at the fishing festival in Quynh Luu

• March 4, 2015 09:49

(Baonghean.vn) - On land, thousands of people jostle, on the river, splendidly decorated boats line up in a sacred procession at the Spring Fishing Festival, hoping for a year of calm seas and safe fishing for fishermen.

It has become a tradition that every year on the 12th - 13th of the first lunar month (ie March 2nd - 3rd of the solar calendar), tens of thousands of fishermen in the coastal areas of Quynh Luu district, Nghe An enthusiastically celebrate Cau Ngu festival. The festival is imbued with the identity and customs of the coastal fishermen here. With the wish to pray for a year of favorable weather, calm seas and blessings from the gods for many "sea blessings".

The main part of the festival is the solemn and extremely unique procession by both water and land. This year's festival attracts tens of thousands of locals and tourists from all over to attend the ceremony.

On land, thousands of people jostled each other to follow the procession. On the river, large boats decorated splendidly with flags and flowers followed in a long line, also following the procession. The palanquin was carried on the shoulders of eight strong young men from the village.high to the rhythm of the people. After setting off, the palanquin was carried from Thoi temple through the hamlets in the commune and then back to the worshiping place. Wherever the procession went, it received a great response from the local people. The procession continued to get more and more crowded and lasted for a long time.

Each participant in the procession also silently prayed to the river god, the sea god, and the ancestors to bestow upon them many blessings, peace in each voyage, and good luck.

Some special images of the palanquin procession at the fishing festival of the coastal people of Nghe An: