"Hau dong" ritual performances at local festivals

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"Hau dong" ritual performances at local festivals

Wednesday, October 18, 2023

YBO- "Hau dong", a spirit possession ritual of the Mother Goddess religion, was recently performed at Dong Cuong temple, a national historical and cultural relic site, in Ben Den village, Dong Cuong commune, Van Yen district, marking the beginning of a series of activities for the Festival of Religious Practices to Worship the Mother Goddess and the Dong Cuong Temple New Rice Festival 2023.

Meritorious Artist Dang Ngoc Anh joins "hau dong" ritual performance, opening a series of activities for the Festival of Religious Practices to Worship the Mother Goddess and the Dong Cuong Temple New Rice Festival 2023.

The "hau dong" ritual performance is a highly distinctive ceremony with a deep cultural and spiritual significance in the Vietnamese tradition of worshiping the Mother Goddess, particularly the Mother Goddess of Forest in Dong Cuong Temple. This ritual has been recognised and honoured by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity.

In a solemn setting, the mediums, known as "thanh dong", immerse themselves in performing the roles of various characters in the spiritual hierarchy, such as the Holy Mothers, Chua Ba (Lady of the Palace), Quan Lon (Grand Duke), Chau Ba (Madame), Quan Hoang, Tien Co (Fairies), Thanh Cau (Saint), and others. They employ gestures and expressive glances, exuding a state of being "in trance." This is combined with the enchanting melodies of "hat chau van" (ritual music) featuring lyrics that praise the beauty, nobility, spirituality, and moral teachings of the Mother Goddess. The performances also celebrate the natural beauty of mountains, forests and homeland.

What adds to the allure is the harmonious combination of music with graceful and flexible dance movements by the "thanh dong", who wears green costumes representing the Mother Goddess of the Forest. This combination contributes to the unique, sacred, and captivating atmosphere of the "hau dong" ritual at the Dong Cuong Temple.

It is known that there are currently 100 artists and mediums from all over the country registered for "hau dong" ritual performances at the Dong Cuong Temple./.

Thu Trang

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