HÀ NỘI — The Bà Chúa Xứ Festival, a national intangible cultural heritage held in the Cửu Long (Mekong) Delta province of An Giang, will take place at Bà Chúa Xứ Temple in Châu Đốc Town on May 29 – June 2.
The annual festival honours the sacred Bà Chúa Xứ (the local tutelary goddess). The festival, which is held between the 23th and the 27th of the fourth lunar month, has five solemn ceremonies, including washing of the statue of Bà Chúa Xứ.
The festival reflects folk beliefs and the distinct identity of the country and the southern region. The event will include dragon dances and art performances.
It is said that the temple of Bà Chúa Xứ was built with leaves and bamboo in the 1820s. It was rebuilt and is now a beautiful site in the Sam Mountain area.
Located in the Thất Sơn (Seven Mountains) area, which is the delta’s roof, Sam Mountain has many cultural heritage sites, including ancient Tây An Pagoda and the mausoleum of Thoại Ngọc Hầu (1761-1829), a renowned general of the Nguyễn Dynasty.— VNS