The Whale Festival

For centuries, the Whale Festival has been the biggest water festival of fishermen in Quang Nam province, in Da Nang city.

Worshipping the whale is not only a way to pay respect to God but also to ensure prosperity of the other villagers.

This festival lasts for two day in the 3^rd lunar month. On this occasion, the Whale Temple, as well as all houses and boats, are beautifully decorated. Peace offerings are conducted on the first evening at the Whale Temple by the village elders. As usual, offerings do not consist of sea food and are given while the oration is read in respect to the Whale Festival.

At dawn of the following day, a boat procession takes place on the sea as an expression of the fishermen’s sincerity to the Whale God. At midnight, an official ceremony, in which school children offer incense and the orchestra plays classical opera, starts. All the fishing boats and villagers, no matter what they are, return faithfully to Quang Nam to celebrate the Whale Festival.