Cá Ông by Brian Hoang
Cá Ông or Cá Voi is a Vietnamese water god who often appears in the form of large fish or cetacean (such as whales, dolphins, and sperm whales) to help ships that wreck due to rough weather at sea.
In Vietnamese folk religion, Vietnamese people believe that all living things have a spirit; these include the mountain and the sea gods. For thousands of years, coastal cultures have revered this sea genie and other water genies to show their gratitude for nature and hope for a happy and prosperous life. All along Vietnam's 3,200 kilometres (2,000 mi) coastline, fishing cultures worship giant whales, whom they regard as their guardian angels, a religious practice that scholars believe is unique to the region. Whale worship is recognized as an important cultural heritage of Vietnam.
History[]
The origin of Vietnam's whale worship remains unknown. Some people are believed that it came from the tradition of Cham people and Khmer people, who introduced it in the area in the 4th and 10th century. The ritual was also believed to have its origin in a Buddhist legend, the story told that after witnessing the plight of poor fisherman was caught inside the storms in South Sea, Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva tore her cassock into many pieces and turned them into the whale to help the fisherman. She noticed that the whale could not withstand the power of the tempest, the Avalokiteshvara gathered elephant bones from the forest and the whale received it, which made the whale strong enough to overthrow the storm and save the man. After this, Vietnamese people gave it the name "cá voi" (literally means "elephant fish") or "cá Ông", which means "Grandfather fish".
Festivals[]
Many whale worshiping festivals take place across Vietnam.
Cau Ngu festival is held annually on the 16st day of the first lunar month in many coastal provinces in Vietnam with many participants. The festival is celebrated to hope for a fruitful year of fishing and a favorable sea season. Popular folk traditions such as music, boat racing, and rowing basket boats are associated with the festival. They all contribute to the people of the coast's lively atmosphere.
"Nghinh Ong Thang Tam Vung Tau" festival, which lasts from August 15 to 18 in the lunar calendar, includes rituals such as praying the sea gods, a procession of the whale god from the sea to the Thang Tam Temple (often known as "The Whale Temple") and hosting a feast to ancestors and heroic martyrs. There is another Nghinh Ong festival which takes place in Can Gio district, Ho Chi Minh City.