The Ministry of Culture, Sport and Tourism has recognized Nhuong Ban whale worshipping festival in Cam Nhuong commune, Ha Tinh province’s Cam Xuyen district as a national intangible cultural heritage on May 27.
The festival annually celebrated on the 8th of the fourth lunar month has been existing since the Nguyen dynasty.
The festival usually features a wide variety of ceremonies including a procession at the sea and offering rituals in the worshipping shrine, with the aim to pray for bumper hauls of fish, safe voyages and peace for the villagers.
The whale worship has been an indispensable part of life in fishing villages and is an important spiritual and cultural event.
Ha Tinh province currently has three nationally recognized intangible cultural heritages listed by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, namely Le Khoi temple festival, Hai Thuong Lan Ong festival and Nhuong Ban whale festival.
