(VOVworld)- Vietnam’s ritual of worshiping the Mother Goddess flourished in the 15th century under the Le dynasty. Since then it has been closely associated with Vietnamese people’s spiritual life. Worshiping the Mother Goddess and national heroes, the ritual embraces Vietnamese identity.
Mother Goddess Lieu Hanh |
The ritual of worshiping the Mother Goddess has become part of Vietnamese people’s spiritual life as it reminds them of national history and the great contributions of the predecessors and national heroes. According to Mr. Nguyen Tien Dung of the Vietnamese Belief Research Center, Vietnamese people’s belief in the ritual of worshiping the Mother Goddess enlivens the ritual: “The ritual teaches people to live in a better and closer manner, and be more kindhearted. The ritual prays for peace, favorable weather, and prosperous and happy people. Not only believers but also managers want to promote the beauty of the ritual and make it closer to people’s life”.
The ritual of worshiping the Mother Goddess combines sculpture, architecture, music, singing, dancing, martial arts, cooking and fashion.
2014 Festival of worshiping the Mother Goddess in Hanoi |
In the ritual of worshiping the Mother Goddess, the medium serves as an ambassador connecting the material world with the genies. Medium Bui Thanh Kien says that when he goes into a trance, he incarnates a genie to bless the believers with beauty, luck, prosperity and happiness: “If I incarnate a mandarin, I must look venerably imposing, overpowering and decently garbed. There are mediums who incarnate genies who are national heroes who saved the nation and the people. The styles of the genies are different”.
The beauty of the ritual of worshiping the Mother Goddess is reflected in its seriousness, gravity and discipline. When he or she goes into a trance, the medium is not a material person anymore. Medium Nguyen Thi Mat says:“I’m very careful and thrifty in my daily life but when acting as a medium, I spend money daringly to create luck for others”.
The ritual embraces rich cultural values and tradition. Worshiping the Mother Goddess the believers hope to be protected and prosper. Unlike other religions and beliefs which look at the after-death world, the ritual of worshiping the Mother Goddess inspires people and their belief in the current life with blessings of happiness, prosperity, and longevity.
2014 Festival of worshiping the Mother Goddess in Hanoi
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Reviving the ritual of worshiping the Mother Goddess has enriched Vietnamese religious culture and contributed to the preservation of traditional cultural values. Nguyen Khac Loi, Deputy Director of Hanoi’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, says the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism is applying for UNESCO’s recognition of the ritual of worshiping the Mother Goddess as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Mr. Loi said:“First of all, the ritual of worshiping the Mother Goddess is uniquely Vietnamese. Second, it embodies humanity and educational values. Third, it’s vital. According to researchers, practices of the ritual of worshiping the Mother Goddess are like living museums because they are not written in books but live in the activities of the ritual. This should be the basic factor for UNESCO to recognize the ritual as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity”.
In contemporary life, the ritual is widely practiced in urban areas attracting a lot of people. In 2009, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Ha Nam Provincial Committee organized a ceremony to worship the Mother Goddess in Lanh Giang temple in Duy Tien, Ha Nam. In 2010, the 1st festival of worshiping the Mother Goddess took place in Tam Dao in Vinh Phuc province. The 2nd festival, held in Hanoi, attracted more than 170 mediums showing the current vitality of the ritual.