Over 100 pilgrim groups flock to Goddess Ponagar Festival in Nha Trang

Thứ Hai, 07/05/2018, 22:10
PSNews - The Khanh Hoa Provincial Department of Culture and Sports on May 6 held the opening ceremony of the Goddess Ponagar Festival 2018 at Ponagar Goddess Tower, located next to the Cai river (Nha Trang City).

The annual Ponagar Goddess Festival runs from May 5 to 8 (March 20 to 23 according to lunar calendar).

This year's festival is expected to attract more than 100 groups of pilgrims from Ninh Thuan, Binh Thuan, Phu Yen, Khanh Hoa, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai provinces, Da Nang city and some Central Highlands provinces.

People attending the opening ceremony of the festival.

This is a cultural activity to commemorate and honor the contributions of Goddess Thien Y A Na, the Holy Mother of the Cham community in the central region, who taught the local people how to cultivate rice, and to weave cloth.

The festival will include some rituals and incense offerings to pray for peace, happiness and prosperity of the people and the nation.

 Many other cultural and sport activities such as folk singing and dances, as well as pottery making and cloth weaving demonstrations will also be organized during the festival.

The Goddess Ponagar Festival was recognized by the Ministry of Culture, Sport and Tourism as a national intangible cultural heritage in 2012.
By An Nhien