Festival promotes Mother Goddess worship in contemporary life
The two-day festival serves as a vital platform to preserve and promote the traditional musical heritage associated with the belief of worshipping the Mother Goddesses of the Three Realms.
A practitioner in a hau dong trance ritual performance. (Photo: VNA)
Bac Giang (VNA) – The sixth festival of Mother Goddess worship in the northern province of Bac Giang kicked off on February 10, cele♔brating the rich spiritual and cultural heritage of this long-standing Vietnamese tradition.
Co-organised by the provincial Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism and the Luc Nam district People’s Committee, the two-day festival serves as a vital platform to preserve and promote the traditional musical heritage associated with the belief of worshipping the Mother Goddesses of the Three Realms. It also provides an opportunity for practitioners to exchange knowledge, strengthen community ties, and celebrate their shared devotion.
In his opening remarks, Truong Quang Hai, Director of the department and head of the organising board of the event, emphasised the province's longstanding role in safeguarding and practicing the worship of the Mother Goddesses. This sacred tradition has been preserved and nurtured across generations, remaining an integral part of the local community’s spiritual life.
The practice was recognised by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity in December 2016. While this recognition is a great pride for Vietnam, it also carries a profound responsibility to ensure its authenticity and longevity.
Since 2015, Bac Giang has successfully hosted five biennial festivals dedicated to hat van and chau van (the ceremonial singing) for the Mother Goddess worship. These events have attracted both practitioners and cultural enthusiasts nationwide.
This year's edition features 17 esteemed practitioners from across Vietnam, including Nam Dinh, Hung Yen, Ha Nam, Lang Son, and Bac Giang. Among them, five have been recognised as Meritorious Artists for their exceptional contributions to the preservation of this sacred art form.
Each participant performs two to three hau dong ritual trance ceremonies, paying homage to deities, the Mother Goddesses, and national heroes. Set in an atmosphere of solemnity and deep spiritual reverence, these performances are meticulously prepared to maintain their authenticity, cultural richness, and mesmerising visual impact.
By blending music, dance, and spirituality, the festival not only honours the past but also ensures the continued vibrancy of the Mother Goddess worship in contemporary life./.
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