Nam O historical relic cluster receives certificate of recognition as municipal-level relic site

A ceremony took place on Saturday in Da Nang to officially mark the handover of a certificate recognising the Lien Chieu District-based Nam O historical relic cluster as a municipal-level historical relic site as part of celebrations for the annual ‘Cau Ngu’ (Fish Worshipping) festival, which falls on 15th day of the 2nd lunar month.

A scene of the handover of the certificate recognising the Lien Chieu District-based

Nam O historical relic cluster as a municipal-level historical relic site

The Nam O historical relic cluster includes the Nam O village communal house, Whale Temple, a worship place dedicated to the souls of the fallen Vietnamese revolutionary soldiers in their struggle against the French forces in the years of 1858, 1859, and 1862, plus a temple dedicated to Goddess Lieu Hanh, one of four immortals in Vietnamese legends and the Lang hundreds-year-old mysterious square well.

The cluster boasts many cultural and historical marks and values, demonstrating the continuation between the Cham and Vietnamese cultures with geological stratigraphy (layers of various sediments representing different periods of time).

Representatives of the local authorities and senior citizens attending the procession of the recognition certificate from the headquarters of the Hoa Hiep Nam Ward authorities to the Whale Temple in Lien Chieu District

Da Nang People’s Committee issued a decision to recognise the cluster as a municipal-level historical relic site on 27 November 2020.

Till date, the municipal Department of Culture and Sports has basically completed the procedures for the restoration and embellishment of the Nam O historical relic cluster at an estimated cost of more than 25 billion VND. Work is slated to start on this project in the rest of this year.

After the reception of the certificate, the Fish Worshipping festival took place with many solemn rituals and exciting traditional festive activities.

A solemn ritual of the Fish Worshipping festival at the Whale Temple

The festival aimed at honouring the Gods of the Sea and the Whale, as well as praying for a successful fishing season ahead. In addition, it offered a chance for local fishermen to pay tribute to their predecessors who had made great efforts to the development of the local fisheries sector.

One of the highlights of the solemn rituals was a ceremony to make offerings to the Whale God.

DA NANG Today