Thousands join Nghinh Ong Festival in Bac Lieu

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.

A ritual of Nghinh Ong Festival (Photo: baobaclieu.vn)
A ritual of Nghinh Ong Festival (Photo: baobaclieu.vn)

The three-day event ended on February 25 or the tenth day of the Lunar New Year at the Ong Duyen Hai Temple (Whale Temple) in Vinh Thinh commune, Hoa Binh district.

The festival featured many activities like parades on both land and sea in honour of the whale, rituals to pray for good weather and bumper catches, cultural events, dragon dances, and folk games.

The ninth day of the first lunar month, the festival’s main day, attracted 30 fishing boats carrying locals, visitors, dragons used in the dances, gongs and drums out to sea.