Phú Quốc has many meaningful and unique traditional festivals that attract tourists. Among them, the Thủy Long Thánh Mẫu festival is one of the important festivals with great significance to the spiritual life of the local people.
1 About the Thủy Long Thánh Mẫu festival
Origin of the Thủy Long Thánh Mẫu festival
The Thủy Long Thánh Mẫu festival takes place on the 15th day of the lunar month in Dinh Bà, Phú Quốc.
The festival is associated with the legend of the goddess Kim Giao. According to the story, the goddess is the lineage of King Cao Miên (now Cambodia). After the overthrow of the dynasty, the goddess Kim Giao left the country and came to Phú Quốc. She brought along her herd of cows and buffaloes to cultivate grass to ensure livelihood. The Dong Bà and Búng Dinh Bà on the Búng beach became special historical landmarks, symbolizing the journey and life of the goddess.
According to the legend, she passed away at Cua Can and her remains were taken back to her homeland by King Cao Miên for burial. However, there is another story that says after her lineage restored the dynasty, the goddess returned to Cao Miên and passed away there. This explains why there are two temples dedicated to the goddess Kim Giao in Phú Quốc, which are Dinh Bà Trong in Cua Can and Dinh Bà Ngoài in Duong Dong.
Significance of the Thủy Long Thánh Mẫu festival
The Thủy Long Thánh Mẫu festival reflects the beautiful moral of “Remembering the Source” in Vietnamese culture, expressing gratitude and reverence for the contribution to the development of Phú Quốc island by the goddess Kim Giao.
The festival also serves as an opportunity for the local people to pray for a favorable new year with abundant rain, gentle wind, and plentiful fishing. For tourists, this event becomes an important part of the Phú Quốc travel experience, offering unique and profound insights into Vietnamese traditional culture.
2 Rituals of the Thủy Long Thánh Mẫu festival
If you visit Dinh Bà on the 15th day of the 1st lunar month, you will have the opportunity to participate in various important rituals of the local people, such as the procession and the ceremonies. Especially during these days, vegetarian food is an indispensable part, providing you the chance to enjoy unique and traditional dishes.
3 Exciting activities in the festival fair
The festival fair also offers you many memorable experiences through a variety of exciting folk games. You can participate in events such as wrestling, tug of war, and boat racing, creating a lively and enthusiastic atmosphere.
4 Tips for attending the Thủy Long Thánh Mẫu festival
When attending the festival at Dinh Bà, tourists should take note of the following:
- Dress modestly and respectfully: Dinh Bà is a cultural and spiritual tourist destination, so wearing appropriate attire is essential.
- Combine a visit to Dinh Bà and Dinh Cậu Phú Quốc: If possible, consider combining a visit to Dinh Bà and Dinh Cậu Phú Quốc in the same itinerary.
- Maintain cleanliness: Tourists should maintain personal hygiene and avoid littering.
- Avoid laughing and causing disturbance: Within the festival grounds, limit laughter and misbehavior.
These tips will help tourists experience the festival in a dignified and respectful manner towards the local culture.
Above are the information about the Thủy Long Thánh Mẫu festival that we have compiled. We hope this article has provided you with useful information.
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