Locals in Da Nang celebrate the whale worshipping festival

The Cau Ngu (Whale worshipping) festival kicked off in Thanh Khe district, in the central coastal city of Da Nang, on February 10 after a three-year postponement due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Locals in Da Nang celebrate the whale worshipping festival
Locals in Da Nang celebrate the whale worshipping festival

The festival featured a wide range of activities, including a fishing net making competition, a folklore singing performance, a paragliding show, and sporting events.

In addition, photos asserting Vietnam’s sovereignty over Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagos, as well as local seafood products, were also introduced to visitors at the festival.

The Cau Ngu festival is a time-honoured traditional practice of locals in the central and southern regions.

It aims to worship whales - the sea god, who is believed to protect fishermen from dangers during their offshore fishing trips. It also conveys people’s wishes for favourable weather conditions and bountiful catches.

The festival was recognised as a national intangible cultural heritage by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in 2016.

NDO