Hundreds of people enjoy the festival of breaking the pond and wading through mud to catch fish in Quang Tri

After the opening drum beat, people waded into the mud to participate in the Tra Loc mud-breaking festival in Hai Hung commune, Hai Lang district, Quang Tri province. Photo: Thien Nhan.

On the morning of August 31, after the opening drum beat, people waded into the mud to participate in the Tra Loc mud-breaking festival in Hai Hung commune, Hai Lang district, Quang Tri province. Photo: Thien Nhan

Tram Tra Loc in Hai Hung commune, Hai Lang district, Quang Tri province has a water surface area of about 10 hectares, surrounded by primeval forest and vegetation of about 100 hectares. Tram is a place to retain water, providing water for the fields nearby. Every year, in the fall, when the fields have finished harvesting, the Tram breaking festival takes place.

Tram Tra Loc in Hai Hung commune, Hai Lang district, Quang Tri province is also known as Tra Loc lake. This is an area with a water surface area of about 10 hectares, surrounded by primeval forest and vegetation of about 100 hectares. Tram is a place to retain water, providing water for the fields nearby. Every year, in the fall, when the fields are harvested, people organize a festival to destroy Tram. Photo: Thien Nhan.

Before the festival, the water in the pond is drained. From early morning, after the drum beats to open the festival, people take prepared tools such as nets, nets, baskets, and trays and wade into the mud to catch fish.

Previously, the Tram Pha festival was simply an occasion to release the lake to catch fish after Tra Loc villagers harvested the summer-autumn rice crop. Later, the Tra Loc Eco-tourism Management Board organized this activity into a festival, attracting local people and tourists. Before taking place, the water in the Tram was drained. From early morning, after the drum beat to open the festival, people with prepared tools such as nets, nets, baskets, and trays waded into the mud to catch fish. Photo: Thien Nhan.

People who go fishing are only allowed to use tools such as nets, nets, baskets, and trays. They are absolutely not allowed to use electric fishing methods or nets.

People who go fishing in the deep are only allowed to use tools such as nets, nets, baskets, and trays. They are absolutely not allowed to use electric fishing methods or nets. Photo: Thien Nhan.

The man discovered fish wriggling under the mud, so he used tools to catch them.

The man discovered a wriggling fish under the mud, so he used a tool to catch it. Photo: Thien Nhan.

After a few shots, he caught a fish. The man was happy, held the fish up high, and shouted loudly for everyone to join in the fun. Photo: Thien Nhan.

The types of fish that people catch a lot are carp, snakehead fish, and tilapia. Whenever they catch a big fish, people will shout loudly to create an atmosphere. If someone catches a lot of fish, they will share it with relatives and neighbors for good luck. Photo: Thien Nhan.

In addition to the concept of attending the Pha Tram festival to receive good fortune; improve meals for villagers; Pha Tram is also an opportunity to dredge, clean, and change the water so that the landscape in the lake is always clean. With many meanings, this festival has existed for about 300 years and is maintained until today.

In addition to the concept of attending the Tram Pha Festival to receive good fortune; improve meals for villagers; Tram Pha Festival is also an opportunity to dredge, clean, and change the water to keep the landscape in the lake clean. With many meanings, Tra Loc Tram Pha Festival has existed for about 300 years and is maintained until today. Photo: Thien Nhan.