After decades, this year's Hue Nam Temple Festival had recreated the procession by road from Thien Tien Thanh Giao Holy Place (352 Chi Lang, Hue City) to Nghinh Luong Dinh
Hue Nam Temple Festival was organized by the Department of Culture and Sports in collaboration with Hue Festival Center and Hue Nam Temple Sponsoring Board. The Festival took place on the morning of April 4, according to traditional rituals. Right from the early morning, many of ‘the “holy” faithful’, fellow believers , local people, and tourists from near and far were present at Thien Tien Thanh Giao Holy Place to participate in the ceremony. Here, after conducting the ceremony, the organizers conducted a 3km road procession through the central streets of Hue City: Chi Lang - Tran Hung Dao - Le Duan before reaching Nghinh Luong Dinh.
Accompanying the worshipping altars were a large number of the “holy” faithful, and believers in traditional costumes carrying flags and banners, creating a colorful procession in a solemn and respectful atmosphere.
After performing the ceremony to pray for peace at Nghinh Luong Dinh, the procession boarded the dragon boats and moved to Hue Nam Temple to conduct other important rituals such as the Main Ceremony, praying for national peace and prosperity, and the Thanksgiving Ceremony.
Mr. Phan Thanh Hai, Director of the Department of Culture and Sports, Head of the Organizing Committee of Hue Nam Temple Festival 2022, said that normally, the festival would be held on March 2nd and 3rd (of Lunar calendar). However, due to this year’s unusually heavy rain, the organizers decided to postpone two days, which is March 4th of the Lunar year (April 4, 2022). According to Mr. Hai, initially, the festival was scheduled to take place for two days, but due to the possibility of a return of rain and wind, the organizers decided that the activities and rituals in the festival would be wrapped up in one day. This was agreed upon by the Sponsoring Board of Hue Nam Temple, along with the “holy” faithful, and fellow believers. In the process of organizing the festival, safety was a top priority.
“After 51 years, since 1971, the 3km procession of the Mother Goddess by road from 352 Chi Lang to Nghinh Luong Dinh is re-enacted, with the participation of more than 400 people. This procession has created a special highlight as a community festival. All the fellow believers, the “holy” faithful have been extremely supportive and excited," said Mr. Hai.
Hue Nam Temple Festival is a traditional activity with cultural and spiritual elements of a part of the population of Hue in particular and the whole country in general. It is held annually in March and July (of Lunar calendar) at the temple located in Hue on Mount Ngoc Tran by the bank of the Huong River, where Thien Y A Na Goddess is worshiped. The festival is considered a folklore festival on the Huong River.
In addition to the main ceremonies, there are also the ceremonies of releasing animals, releasing lanterns, singing Hue chau van, etc. They attract a large number of boats traveling upstream the Huong River, carrying many tourists coming from provinces throughout the country to the festival.
Below are photos captured by Thua Thien Hue Online:
Before the start of the procession, in the early morning, the organizers conducted the entreating ritual in the Thien Tien Thanh Giao Holy Place
The road procession with more than 400 people creating a colorful festive atmosphere
The 3km procession starts from Thien Tien Thanh Giao Holy Place, passing Chi Lang, Tran Hung Dao, and Le Duan streets before stopping at Nghinh Luong Dinh
Many of the “holy” faithful, and believers from across the country gather in Hue on this occasion to attend the spiritual and cultural festival which is dated back to ancient times
Many locals and tourists take pictures and record videos when the procession passes through the streets
Accompanying the worshipping altars are a large number of the “holy” faithful, and believers in traditional costumes carrying flags and banners, creating a colorful and solemn procession
The procession passes in front of Phu Van Lau before entering Nghinh Luong Dinh
After conducting a number of rituals at Nghinh Luong Dinh, the procession boards the nearby boats
A dragon boat in the festival procession
The dragon boat procession traveling upstream the Huong River to Hue Nam Temple
After arriving at Hue Nam Temple, the main rituals are conducted inside the Main temple
Story and photos: Nhat Minh