As the same “Chua Hon” in Kien Giang, “Nui Sam” in An Giang, named “Dinh Co”in Long Hai has acquainted with tourists everywhere for long.
It is a small temple located on the full wind hill top in Long Hai Beach which has been worshiping the water died virgin girl. Dinh Co has been building by old available religious beliefs of people. According to legend, before 186 years, the 16 aged girl s’dead body with name Le Thi Hong Thuy drifted on seashore, her countryside in Phan Rang, following her father, Mr Le Van Khuong who built a wooden barge at full sail from the Centre to the South of Vietnam for catching fishes and exchanging bamboo knited products. Everytime the wooden barge crossing at Long Hai Beach, she saw charming natural scenery and wished staying for life. At storm night, the god pleased her wish carrying her over the waves and drifted ashore, lay down on white sand. She had been protected by sand pushing up and rocked her to sleep by waves. She is considered a sacred goddess by villagers who have built her grave next temple in the hillock.
At first, it is only soil grave, bamboo temple. The temple and grave are changed following wonder-working which has been more and more spreading out.
Once (in 1966), the temple flared up, and had been restored spaciously. In the beginning of the year 1990, Dinh Co has been restored to become the solid palace at present by expenditure which is contributed from people everywhere.
Since Dinh Co’s appearance for incense-smoke, Long Hai fishermen have more spirit strong to face in difficulties. The villagers usually assign their achievement for her, and fabricate poetic delight legend, mainly she return out to help good people overcome difficulties. Long Hai people’s respectment offering her has become their custom that it hided their aspiration and belief for prosperous and peaceful life.
Every year, the festival usually open within 3 days (February 10th, 11th, 12th of lunar calendar), all day and night. Tens thousand tourists everywhere from western countryside, Ho Chi Minh city, Lam Dong, Bình Thuan province…go to Long Hai in crowds for “Giỗ Cô” festival in Duong forest, sand beach, hall, free space for overnight to join all 3 days of the festival. Someone must come early some days to seek lodging for the night. Some family with their children bring housewife belongings for eating and sleeping right away. Lower night, hubbub Duong forest, soughing wave, flare of moon, inmense wind…whose all made in charming scenery for people forgeting difficulties and feeling happy with going on a pilgrimage in the open air.
From early morning of 10 th of lunar February, people start to visit Cô. Each one hold in hand a white lily branch standing for pure. The youth like joyful, the religious olders, they all overcome 187 stone steps in crowds to offer incense for bud in central chamber. The nights of 10, 11 are festival nights with flower garlands and coloured lanterns and mixed moon. Tens thousand of boats direct to Dinh Co where gong resound, drum-beat is noisy all night.
Basic festival is held on early morning of 12th. Orderly people group with flag from central chamber to beach on boat directing to sea for “Nghinh Cô” festival which is celebrated stately. The head is leading group of pupil with flags, umbrellas, flower garlands and coloured lanterns. A big boat with incense-table for “Nghinh Cô” is escorted by tens other boats in series direct to the sea in sound of gongs and drum-beat. To Mui Nho, place of her grave, they leave the boats for visiting her grave, and welcoming her to come back the palace. Especially show form “Hát bả trạo” is still preserved in“Nghinh Cô” festival. According to Dr. Ton That Binh, “Haùt baû traïo” mean is sang with dar in hand , a popular type of folk-song of fishermen from Binh Tri Thien province (old) to Binh Thuan province where is often held “Hát bả trạo” in whale funeral ceremony. And Long Hai, ‘Hát bả trạo” is appeared in “Nghinh Cô” festival which show form is not different from “Hát bả trạo” of Southern Centre sea area’s fishermen, (cung co tổng khoang, tổng muõi, tổng lái) and group of crowing friends from 12 to 16 people. It’s only different from “Ngưỡng vọng cổ” song’s content (instead of regreting and praising whale) and prayer of quiet sea and sunshine, with full boats of shrimps and fishes . Tone and song proved “Haùt baû traïo” of “Nghinh Cô” festival in Long Hải is more broad-minded and lyrical than deeply in worry of the Central southern part sea area’ s.
It’s most funny for charming tourists not in interior chamber that in Long Hai beach sight where is crowded in festival. Standing in the central chamber hall you feel as in interfere between sea and sky, true and false life, float wave, and Dinh Co in position of “phục long” for flying. Therefore coming to Dinh Co festival is not only religioners that writers, poets, couples of boy and girl for affecting by their heart.
News: Vietnamese traditional festival treasure
